Non-licensed Summit School District staff members are continuing their efforts to unionize and again encouraged the district to take action and approve them as a bargaining unit. 

At a Thursday, Oct. 9, Board of Education meeting, several public commenters, both staff members and their supporters, reiterated a request made at a Sept. 18 meeting to grant bargaining rights to non-licensed staff members. People who support the unionization effort have cited a desire to negotiate higher wages and raised concerns such as low pay, unfavorable conditions caused by a lack of adequate staffing, trouble with recruitment and a general lack of support. 

Board of Education members did not vote to grant bargaining rights to non-licensed staff at the Sept. 18 meeting or at the Oct. 9 meeting, but they did agree to create a policy on Sept. 18 that would outline the next steps in the process to potentially form a union based on the request.

Sam Islaub, who said she was speaking on behalf of educational support professionals, said she and others appreciate the board’s directive to create that policy, but she said they also have concerns. 

“We’re worried (that) what should be a simple act of acknowledgement risks becoming a lengthy process that keeps hundreds of hundreds of essential workers waiting tonight,” Islaub said, adding that many non-licensed staff members have concerns that creating a policy would cause unwanted delays. 

She said a majority of school districts in the state make “simple statements of recognition” instead of creating an “elaborate framework” that involves passing policies. She and others at the meeting said there is no state law requiring such a policy and that the formation of the Summit County Education Association didn’t need a policy for recognition, calling the action unnecessary. 

Snowy Peaks Jr./Sr. High School eight grade teacher Rachel Waltman said she started as a paraprofessional with Summit School District in 2022 and, at the time, was shocked to see she would be making $21 an hour with a teaching license and a master’s degree. She said it was even more shocking to learn that other education support professionals made less. She said the district cannot retain educational support professionals without competitive wages and incentives for professional growth. 

“Currently, our efforts are challenged by consistent disorganization, prevailing safety concerns, a chronic lack of support and unsatisfactory compensation,” substitute kitchen manager Lydia Waguespack said. “The core of our struggle is feeling exposed and unsupported. Inconsistent management policies create a climate where more voicing legitimate concerns about workload or safety can feel like a risk to our jobs.” 

Waguespack said one of her greatest concerns is that the current inadequate staffing levels could prevent them from assisting injured or disabled colleagues, which she said has already happened to a near 20-year custodian with the district who didn’t receive necessary accommodations or support. Other public commenters said they find taking any time off to be difficult given the low staffing levels.

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<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Paraprofessional Heather Guard speaks at a Thursday, Oct. 9 meeting to support the efforts of non-licensed staff members as they seek to form a union in hopes of negotiating higher wages and addressing other issues.</figcaption><figcaption>Kit Geary/Summit Daily News</figcaption>

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Additionally, Waguespack said she’s seen the district lose another custodian due to unjustified rumors that were being spread by temporary employees while management was offering no defense. She said a union could help provide protection in these instances. 

Summit Middle School severe needs teacher Jeannine Brock advocated for the proposal, citing a need to have paraprofessionals making a solid wage. She talked about how her classroom hosts children who need perhaps the most attention and support. She said it was a significant hit when she lost a full-time paraprofessional due to financial hardships this year. 

“Simply put, the pay of a (paraprofessional) is ridiculously short of what is needed to live here in Summit County, and my students need (paraprofessionals),” she said. 

Board of education members thanked public commenters and showed support for their work. 

Superintendent Tony Byrd acknowledged that “it feels like it’s taking forever” for some people advocating for unionization. He also said it is true that districts throughout the state go about recognizing bargaining units differently. 

“Everybody appreciates the work you do. … This is the path that we’ve chosen,” he said. “We think will be best for everyone.”