Parents, union and school staff urge Milan Area Schools to raise pay for paraprofessionals during contract talks
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Summary
Dozens of parents, paraprofessionals and union leaders told the Milan Area Schools board that paraprofessionals are underpaid, risking retention and student safety; the board said negotiations are ongoing and later entered closed session for negotiation strategy.
Dozens of parents, paraprofessionals and union representatives urged the Milan Area Schools Board of Education on Jan. 14 to raise pay and improve contracts for paraprofessionals, citing difficult working conditions and the district’s push toward inclusive early‑childhood classrooms.
Libby Thacker, a parent of two district students, described the demands of para work and appealed to the board’s sense of community: "If one of these parapros asked me for a carton of cigarettes and a pack of beer for after work, I would provide it every single day," she said, adding that many paras work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Andrea Benning, a parent and pack representative, said Milan’s starting pay for paras lags neighboring districts by "like $4 more, $5 more" and warned that low pay plus high training costs will produce a "revolving door" that harms both staffing and student enrollment. Yvette Smith, president of the MASSS union and an administrative assistant at Paddock, outlined earlier contract concessions—furlough days and pay cuts imposed during the 2011–2013 financial crunch—and told the board the district is no longer in that crisis and should restore lost compensation.
Speakers described the day‑to‑day realities that paras face: regular physical incidents (biting, spitting, pinching), unpaid furlough days from past contracts, and responsibilities that include nursing, security and behavioral supports. Several parents emphasized that some students could not attend school without dedicated paraprofessionals.
The board acknowledged public comment and said negotiations are active. Chair noted Superintendent McMahon "is still negotiating that contract and we expect to continue to negotiate in good faith," and the board later voted to enter closed session under the Michigan Open Meetings Act for negotiation strategy.
Next steps: board members repeatedly told speakers they heard the concerns and that compensation and retention remain part of ongoing negotiations; a formal outcome on pay adjustments was not announced at the meeting.