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School staff warn of injuries and urge higher pay, more paraprofessionals
Summary
A district employee described increases in unsafe behaviors and serious injuries tied to staff shortages; commenters and board members discussed the need for livable wages and more paraprofessionals to keep students and staff safe.
At the May 12 board meeting, Lee Miller, a district employee, told the Evergreen Public Schools Board of Directors that staffing shortages have forced one-on-one aides to be paired with other students, contributing to an increase in unsafe incidents at her school.
"We're talking about concussions and strangulations, not just a bruise or bite mark," Miller said, and urged the district to provide livable wages and decent benefits for classified staff so they can hire and retain enough paraprofessionals and other student-facing employees.
Board members acknowledged the concern and said they have heard similar staffing pressures across the district. One director detailed procurement savings from a new elevator maintenance contract and said financial pressures are real, but added the district should review reports of student safety and staffing deployment to identify solutions.
Superintendent Dr. Maloney and board members discussed the district’s multi-year financial recovery plan and stressed the need to prioritize supports that help students finish the school year successfully. No formal staffing or budget actions were taken at the meeting; speakers noted bargaining between the Evergreen Education Association and the district is active, with a bargaining session held May 11 and the next scheduled May 15.
The item concluded with directors asking staff to review the incidents and explore options for hiring and retention to address safety and workload for student-facing staff.
