Correction: Paras Pleased with New Contract, Quick Negotiation

Tim Riddle, president of the union that represents 70 paraprofessionals in the school district, said he is “very happy” with the new four-year contract that the Board of Education (BOE) unanimously ratified this week after just “seven or eight hours” of negotiations this spring between the two sides.

He said that was in sharp contrast to the last contract, which was negotiated over 18 months.

“There was a great chemistry,” Riddle said regarding the recent negotiating sessions.

The two sides reached a tentative agreement at the end of a session May 17 that was preceded by a rally in front of the Municipal Center in which some of the paraprofessionals sought, according to Riddle, to “augment” their profile.

With little discussion, the BOE approved the new contract at its regular meeting on Wednesday night.

Riddle, who works at Whisconier Middle School (WMS), credited Assistant Superintendent Genie Slone with helping to improve the negotiations for the new contract, which will boost salaries by a combined 9.8 percent over the four years.

The union president said starting salaries for the paraprofessionals would be in the $13.50 to $14 range during the contract.

The paraprofessionals assist teachers, particularly in the special education classes.

“This was negotiated in three or four sessions over seven or eight combined hours,” Riddle said. “That’s expedient.”

“I think it’s our first four-year contract,” he said. “Typically, it’s a three-year contract.”

Riddle said that all of the paraprofessionals must be state certified and some of them have master’s degrees and have formerly worked as teachers or speech pathologists.

“You have a very educated corps of paraprofessionals in the district,” he said.