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Tutors, educators press Concord finance committee to fund living wages for education support staff
Summary
Three Concord educators representing education support professionals told the Finance Committee the town can afford living wages and urged use of audit-identified surplus funds to raise pay and benefits for ESPs who often work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Residents and school employees urged the Concord Finance Committee on Aug. 6 to use excess town funds to raise pay and benefits for education support professionals (ESPs).
Joan Coleman, a tutor at Willard Elementary, said the recent audit identified $5,000,000 in unspent funds and argued some of that money should support workers who are ‘‘essential to the functioning of the school and the town.’’ She told the committee that many ESPs hold second jobs and that turnover harms students. ‘‘We know that the recent audit has uncovered 5,000,000 in unspent funds,’’ Coleman said.
Julia Brown, a special educator at Alcott Elementary speaking for the Concord Teachers Association, described personal financial strain and said one job should be enough: ‘‘I currently have $286 to my name,’’ Brown said, adding that her annual take-home pay is below $30,000 and that proposed school pay offers were inadequate. Isabelle O’Connor, a tutor with a background in special education, echoed those concerns and said underpaying ESPs forces families into out‑of‑district placements that the town then subsidizes.
The committee did not take a formal vote on the request during the meeting. Members acknowledged the speakers and said the issues raised would be considered as the committee proceeds with guideline-setting and budget hearings this fall.
