Support staff present 'One job should be enough' petition at MRH board meeting

At the March 12 Maplewood‑Richmond Heights board meeting, multiple educational support professionals and union leaders urged the board to make living wages a budget priority.

Dawn Polnage, the high‑school building secretary and lead educational support professional (ESP) organizer for MRH NEA, presented what she said was a petition signed by a supermajority of ESP staff and summarized the campaign with a direct message: “One job should be enough.” Other building secretaries and support staff described cost‑of‑living pressures and the need to retain veteran staff who currently hold second or third jobs to make ends meet.

Bethany Novy, MRH NEA treasurer and certified staff bargaining co‑chair, thanked the bargaining teams for progress on certified‑staff reopeners but said the union and NEA executive team were urging the board to prioritize living wages for support staff in the upcoming budget. Several parents and teachers who spoke during public forum also emphasized the role support staff play in student success and stability.

Administrators acknowledged the petition and noted constraints: some positions (for example, a temporary college adviser) had been grant‑funded (AmeriCorps provided a $5,000 contribution historically), and district leadership will need to consider budget tradeoffs. The board did not adopt a policy at the meeting but will address compensation in the FY27 budget process.

The petition and testimony reflect active grassroots pressure ahead of the district’s budget decisions; board members encouraged staff and community to continue dialogue while the administration refines budget options.