Pickerington Support Staff Association urges higher wages during American Education Week

Joey Moore, president of the Pickerington Support Staff Association, spoke during the public‑comment portion of the Nov. 10 board meeting to highlight American Education Week (Nov. 17–21) and to urge the district and community to recognize the role of education support professionals.

Moore described a video illustrating a day without ESPs and detailed the variety of work they perform — from bus drivers and custodians to paraprofessionals and food‑service staff — arguing the district could not function without them. "How frightening would it be to try to run a school without education support professionals?" he asked.

Moore told trustees that PSSA members in the district earn on average between $30,000 and $35,000 a year and noted the MIT Living Wage Calculator estimate cited in his remarks: the living wage for one adult in Fairfield County is about $46,654 and rises to roughly $77,105 for an adult with one child. He also said some benefits differ by bargaining group — for example, that PSSA employees are the only group in the district without religious leave, per his remarks.

Moore urged more respect, professional development and pay that keeps up with inflation and highlighted local connections: he said roughly 90% of the district’s ESPs live in the community and many volunteer locally. He closed by inviting community members to learn more about his group’s social media outreach and upcoming events celebrating ESP members.

The board did not take action on compensation at the meeting; the district’s budget presentations later in the agenda outlined forecast constraints and potential state involvement that administrators said will shape future compensation and staffing decisions.