DALTON, Mass. — Paraprofessionals in the Central Berkshire Regional School District are asking for better wages.

 

The school budget has given deserved pay increases to other staff members and although those increases represent their values paraprofessionals are not getting what they deserve, Central Berkshire Education Association Vice President Liz Jackson told the School Committee on Thursday.

 

"You may be asking yourself, why do I do this, make myself feel uncomfortable to stand in front of you all. But I do this because I truly believe in the group of paraprofessionals we have. I truly believe they need to be valued," she said.

 

This is not the first time Jackson has gone before the committee asking for better pay for paraprofessionals. She also attended the Dec. 8 meeting to explain how paraprofessionals feel undervalued. 

 

Paraprofessionals are not getting paid what they are worth despite how hard they work, she said. 

 

Craneville Elementary School paraprofessional Alesia Corbett urged the district to consider increasing paraprofessional pay, saying she and her colleagues are not feeling valued and many are leaving to pursue other jobs. 

 

Teachers would not be able to do their jobs without paraprofessionals because of the amount of students they interact with, Corbett said, adding paraprofessionals are able to help struggling students who would otherwise fall through the cracks.

 

Going back and forth from school and being able to afford amenities such as food is difficult with the amount of money paraprofessionals have to live on, Corbett said. 

 

As a student who struggled as a kid, School Committee Chair Richard Peters said he appreciates that the two of them came before the board to make these comments. 

 

"I thank you all for coming. representing your folks there. I want to say that as a person who fell through the cracks when I was a kid, I really appreciate what you guys do. Thank you for coming and standing up for yourselves." Peters said. 

 

The School Committee does not control the salary negotiations so committee member Amy Gelinas asked why the paraprofessionals are upset. 

 

She asked if the district is far off from other districts but was told this is a matter discussed in executive session. 

 

The contract for the paraprofessionals, a unit of the Central Berkshire Education Association, expired in June 2022. Negotiations began last April for a new three-year contract. 

 

In other news, the committee:

 

• Appointed Charlotte Crane as its representative for the town of Dalton to fill a vacancy.

 

• Accepted donations of $1,500 from Brian Fitzgerald and of $50 from the Snyder family in memory of Joseph Patrick Muraca Jr. to the General Scholarship Fund.

 

• Accepted a grant from Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation in the amount of $7,000.

 

• Accepted a donation of $100 to the Wahconah Athletic Gift Account Fund from John and Charlene Moran, in memory of Thomas Moran.

 

• Accepted two donations from O'Connor Portraiture Inc. to the revolving gifts account fund in the amount of $793.23 for Becket Washington Elementary School and $1,070.82 for Kittredge Elementary School.