Hundreds of people participated in a rally Monday in solidarity with the Naperville School District 203 support staff union, which has been working without a contract since the summer.
District 203 employees, parents and children joined members of the Naperville Education Support Professionals Association, known as NESPA, as they marched through downtown Naperville with signs demanding a fair contract with livable wages. The line of supporters extended about two blocks long, and passing cars honked their horns to signify support.
The march ended at the district’s administration offices, where participants filled both the school board meeting room and an overflow area during the subsequent school board meeting.
Union members hold more than 30 different full- and part-time job positions throughout the district, including secretarial and clerical employees, health technicians, paraprofessionals, campus supervisors, technology support associates and media specialists.
Their contract expired June 30, and the negotiating team has met with district officials 47 times, union Vice President Amanda Wood said.
“The district has left us feeling disrespected and virtually invisible,” Wood said. “We continue to put in a full days’ work. We continue to put our students first. We put their safety, medical needs, emotional and educational needs first. We advocate for our students. We provide care and student experience that no agency could provide. The strength it takes for us to do what we do is impressive and keeps our schools working.”
Sharon Kurolenko, president of NESPA, said the members have been frustrated that they have not been able to reach an agreement even with the assistance of a federal mediator. Their last contract was approved in 2021.
“Many of our members struggle financially,” she said. “Some of us are at or close to the poverty level while performing full time work for the district. The district has difficulty attracting and retaining staff to provide a stable environment for our students and school community.”
Many new employees find the jobs difficult and some quit after their first day, Kurolenko said. Vacant positions compounds the work for all employees, she said.
“Our working conditions are our students’ learning conditions,” she said.
For months, district employees, parents and alumni have been speaking out at school board meetings in support of a new NESPA contract.
“Did you know that a dishwasher at Chili’s in Naperville averages $18.43 an hour, and that is more than the starting wages of 80% of the NESPA positions, including health technicians,” Jo Volkening a certified school nurse at Naperville North High School, said at the meeting.
Kelly Scotti, an instructional assistant at Beebe Elementary School, said she makes $20 an hour with 19 years’ experience, and her take-home pay is about $455 more per year now than when she first started. Substitute teachers are making more than support staff with long careers, she said.
“We are grossly underpaid for what we do,” Scotti said.
Nicole Folsom, a psychologist at Elmwood Elementary School, said the support staff has contributed to the district being recognized as a high performing school district with National Blue Ribbon Schools, but NESPA members are paid lower than surrounding districts.
Unfilled positions have a domino effect, she said, with staff having to take on more responsibilities to meet students needs, which causes an adverse impact on staff morale. High rates of turnover and continually retraining new staff negatively affect the school climate, she said.
“The district’s inability to recruit and retain NESPA staff should not be the barrier that stops us from providing supports that best meets students’ needs,” Folsom said. “We are a resource-rich district so let us prioritize our greatest resource, the hard-working individuals who make this district outstanding.”
Sherry Brockway, a department secretary at Naperville Central High School, said the pay disparity between entry-level employees and those such as herself with more than 10 years of experience is $1.17 per hour.
“This minimal difference in pay between experienced employees and new hires is disheartening, and it does not reflect the value of experience and dedication that long-term employees bring to the district,” Brockway said. “Retaining experienced staff is critical to maintaining the quality of education and services that we provide to all our students.”
Beth Griffith, a health technician at Naperville Central, said the disparities include stipends to run extracurricular activities as well with support staff making less than the published amount to lead clubs.
Lisa Xagas, D203’s assistant superintendent for strategy and engagement, said the district and its support staff union are continuing to work collaboratively to reach a fair and equitable agreement and both parties will meet again Wednesday.
“We understand the vital role our educational support professionals play in the success of our schools and are grateful for their continued dedication and hard work,” she said in an email. “We are confident that a mutually beneficial agreement will be reached soon.”
Parent Jana Gabrione, whose son has Down syndrome, choked up Monday while speaking of the impact the district’s support staff has had throughout his education. He has made positive and lasting relationships with paraprofessionals and health technicians, she said.
While they have benefited from many years of consistent staff, there has also been years where staffing was an issue “due to high turnover and the inability to hire quality assistants,” she said.
“Without a doubt, this is due to the substandard wages as well as a lack of some type of reward system for longevity and experience.”
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
