Instructional assistants urge higher pay during public comment at school board meeting
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Summary
Several instructional assistants and a veteran special education teacher told the Harrisonburg City School Board that IA pay has not kept pace with living costs and increases in job duties, urging the board to fund higher wages in the FY27 budget.
During the public comment period on March 3, multiple instructional assistants and a special education teacher urged the board to increase pay for instructional assistants (IAs). "I make roughly $29,000," said Ivan Christo, an IA at Spotswood Elementary, describing monthly obligations that leave him with little cushion. He asked the board to consider raises that reflect the job's responsibilities and local cost of living.
Abby Kurtz Lindner described day-to-day duties that extend beyond her job description, including diaper care, assisting with AAC devices, leading small groups and running extracurricular activities, and said she earns about $24,000 a year. "If we're gonna be doing the job description that is not in our job description, then we should be paid fairly," she told the board.
Amy LaBarge, a 23-year special education teacher, spoke in support of the assistants and asked how the superintendent's proposed budget would provide funds to increase IA wages. Board members acknowledged the public comments and said budget discussions and contingency planning were underway, noting the superintendent's progressive-raise approach aimed at directing larger percentage increases to lower-paid staff.
The speakers asked the board to consider pay adjustments in the FY27 budget process; staff and board members said the public hearing and forthcoming work session are the appropriate venues to present detailed budget numbers and to weigh funding trade-offs.
