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Paraprofessional shortage and pay draw public concern; board agrees to review pay scale
Summary
A district paraprofessional told the Schuylkill Valley board that an emotional support classroom and higher starting wages are needed; the board agreed to review para pay and staffing levels after the public comment.
At the Schuylkill Valley School District meeting, paraprofessional Sally Horton of Leesport urged the board to address shortages of paraprofessionals and to create an emotional support classroom at the middle school, saying current staffing levels are strained and that starting pay is too low.
"Starting salary listed on the SV website of $13.66 per hour," Horton said, and she compared the district's rate to nearby districts she cited from public postings (for example, Hamburg listed $16.34 and Governor Mifflin $16.20). Horton said para duties now include significant behavioral supports and de‑escalation work that can pull staff away from mandated IEP duties and that the district should prioritize hiring and retention to meet those responsibilities.
Board members acknowledged the concern. One board member said the district should re‑examine the PARa pay scale and survey neighboring districts to ensure competitiveness; another clarified that hourly employees receive annual step increases up to the top of the pay rate and continued cost‑of‑living adjustments thereafter. The board asked administration and building leaders to review staffing alignments and to report back.
District officials did not adopt immediate pay changes during the meeting; rather, the board directed a review of the PARa pay structure and regional comparisons. The superintendent and board members emphasized that paraprofessionals are aligned to student needs and that any adjustments must preserve coverage required by IEPs.
Next steps: Board members requested a county‑wide comparison of starting rates and total compensation for paraprofessionals and asked administration to return with recommendations.
