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Paraeducators report steep turnover, pay and insurance concerns to Ann Arbor school board
Summary
A representative of ARP told trustees that paraeducator ranks have fallen sharply over two summers, that insurance changes and low wages are driving departures, and asked the district for better tracking and transparency about subcontracted roles and pay.
Clare Arthurs, speaking for ARP (paraeducators working as education support professionals), told the board the unit’s staffing totals have declined sharply in recent years and described the working and financial pressures driving exits.
Arthurs said the unit fell by about 70 positions in summer 2024 (from 410 to 340) and by approximately 76 positions in summer 2025 (from 371 to 295). She attributed turnover to changes in how assistants were paid and to a health-insurance change that left some members unable to afford coverage, saying some employees would have to pay “$3,000 or 13% of their salary” for insurance.
Arthurs asked the district to track turnover more carefully, to publish data on who is filling subcontracted positions such as registered behavior technicians and to address pay transparency. “If the district is unwilling…but stringing us along for six months saying they would find out, it’s really easy to see where parents are demanding greater transparency,” she said.
Superintendent Parks and staff acknowledged the report, said negotiations with employee organizations are ongoing and that some administrative changes (e.g., earlier calendar publication and more advance planning for professional development) have been positive. Trustees said they expect continued updates and recommended the administration include detailed turnover and subcontracting information in upcoming reports.
What happens next: ARP said bargaining is scheduled for June 25; trustees asked staff to regularly report staffing counts and the district to improve communication about subcontracted providers and related pay scales.
