Hundreds of education support professionals from Aurora Public Schools gathered at a recent school board meeting to call for the right to hold a union election and negotiate a contract. The group included nutrition workers, paraeducators, bus staff, custodians, and preschool facilitators.
Brandi Edmonds, an EA Tech at Clara Brown, told the board about her experience as the only paraeducator for 200 students without job-specific training. “We deserve to be taken care of too with job specific training so we can support our students, with livable wages so we aren’t worrying about how we can pay rent at the end of the month,” she said.
Heather Morgan, who has worked as a nutrition worker at Vassar Elementary for 17 years, spoke about lacking input on her pay. “Now the district says that I’m important, that I’m a vital part of the APS community, but if I’m so important, then why does someone else get to decide my raise without me? It’s not fair!” she stated.
Hilda, a custodian and paraeducator with two decades in Aurora Public Schools (APS), described facing harassment and retaliation when raising concerns. “I’ve seen over the years how we don’t have a voice, there’s no fair processes, and when workers don’t feel safe to speak up, dangerous conditions can keep going for years,” she said. “When you hurt me, you hurt my family, and you hurt my children, APS students.”
Bus paraeducator Marceline emphasized the importance of safety concerns raised by drivers and paras. “On our own we are ignored or worse, labeled as ‘troublemakers,’ so we are coming together,” Marceline said.
Maria Simental, a cafeteria cook who addressed the board in Spanish, explained that her $1,300 monthly salary is insufficient for basic needs. “No estamos pidiendo lujos. Estamos pidiendo la posibilidad de vivir con dignidad mientras servimos a la comunidad que amamos (We are not asking for luxuries. We are asking for the possibility to live with dignity while serving the community we love),” she told board members.
Tiffany, who has worked as a classroom para for seven years and lives with a terminal medical condition, described being unable to afford medication despite having district health insurance. She shared that she moved back in with her mother and took on another job. “As an adult, not being able to afford to live is humiliating,” Tiffany said.
Preschool facilitator Kristine West raised concerns about lack of transparency in pay scales and discipline processes for classified staff. “I don’t believe that any teacher should have to pause when caring for children because of the fear of losing their job,” West said.
All speakers called for one central change: adoption of a policy granting them union recognition rights. Marceline summarized their request: “We need the right to a union, we need the right to bargain for a better district for all.”
