Paraprofessionals press Holyoke School Committee for higher pay, more leave ahead of bargaining
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Summary
Paraprofessionals and members of their bargaining team told the school committee they need a tier-and-step pay scale, restored longevity, more sick time, assault leave and eight weeks paid family leave as contract talks continue and the contract approaches expiration.
Paraprofessionals representing the Holyoke Paraprofessional Association urged the Holyoke School Committee on March 23 to accept a near-complete set of contract proposals and to come prepared to bargain on April 6.
At public comment, Elizabeth Montana said the association had worked through the weekend to finalize proposals and asked the committee to deliver counterproposals on April 6. "Our compensation proposal was designed to reflect the many different paraprofessional categories, education, experience, and skill sets that we bring to our positions," Montana said, calling for a tier-and-step system and the return of longevity.
Individual paraprofessionals described how low pay and limited leave affect their ability to work with high-needs students. "I am more than just a teacher's helper," said Shelley Reed, a paraeducator who said she provides physical and emotional supports and cares for students around the clock. Ron Liang Haley, a para at Peck Middle who said he lives with chronic pain, told the committee current sick-time accrual forces him to work while ill and asked for updated accruals so he can maintain his health and continue serving students.
Other speakers from the bargaining team recounted heavy coverage duties and frequent substituting that leave some paraeducators unable to support their assigned students. "This role was necessary so that my fellow staff would not be overwhelmed by a massive caseload of students," said Alexander Liang Haley, who described filling an empty special-education inclusion role.
Committee members did not take formal action during public comment. Several members acknowledged the concerns and requested follow-up as bargaining continues. The association said its contract will expire at the end of the school year and that bargaining resumes April 6.
The committee’s next procedural step on bargaining will occur in executive session later in the meeting; no public decisions about contract terms were made on March 23.
