Aurora, CO — The Aurora Classified Education Support Professionals (ESPs) have secured the right to call a union election in Aurora Public Schools (APS) following a unanimous 7-0 vote by the school board. This policy, passed after months of advocacy from ESPs, allows these employees to seek union recognition and begin bargaining for a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Previously, only licensed staff such as teachers had the right to unionize within APS. ESPs include roles like special needs paraeducators, bus drivers, nutrition workers, and custodians. These workers have argued that they are essential to daily school operations and deserve collective bargaining rights.
Linnea Reed-Ellis, president of the Aurora Education Association representing licensed staff in APS, said: “We’re incredibly excited that the school board has taken this historic vote and supported our colleagues. This decision represents a significant step forward for the hardworking education support staff who are essential to our schools’ daily operations. We believe that when we lift up all our workers — the bus drivers, custodians, nutrition workers, paraprofessionals, and more — we strengthen the entire educational ecosystem. Every person in our schools deserves fair compensation and respect for their contributions to student success.”
The push for union recognition began with an August 2025 petition signed by over 60% of classified ESP employees. After initial inaction from the board at an August meeting, more than one hundred ESPs attended an October meeting demanding action. The new policy also requires district management to remain neutral during any future union election process.
Tiffany Barker, a paraprofessional with ten years at APS, stated: “We’re fighting for ourselves and our students. We’re not able to do our job properly under current conditions; we don’t have the pay, resources, or training to do our jobs well and provide excellent care to our students. We need a say in the budget to make sure that students, their safety, and the staff who ensure it are the top priorities. With this policy passing, and our ability to call an election, I know that the staff who come after me will have the resources to stay in this district and make a better school system for students, especially those with disabilities and severe needs.”
Efforts similar to those in Aurora are underway among ESPs in other Colorado districts such as Summit County, Sheridan, and Thompson. Recent campaigns by groups like Paraeducators of Cherry Creek—which represents over 900 paraprofessionals—and Mountain Valley School District have also led these groups toward negotiating their first contracts.
