David
07-03-2008, 05:46 PM
Paraprofessionals' plight in Wallingford
By Michael Spiteri, Town Councilor
Because of the increase in diagnoses of variable learning deficiencies, more mainstreaming of students with special needs, and the aggressive curriculum Wallingford Schools expect more than ever from the school system’s paraprofessionals.
Over the years, the teachers and the administration owe this group a huge amount of credit for Wallingford’s education system. Without adequate support, the faculty could never give the entire classroom spectrum the attention needed to meet our stringent graduation requirements.
I have to say that watching the "Wallingford Paras" video "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYALOgqnrg0" was an eye-opener, and I invite you to check it out for yourself. I'm sure it is also available at our fine library for those without access to the Internet.
School paraprofessionals are a relatively new professional group, but that doesn’t make them any less important to the success of a 21st-century school system.
I believe it is a shame that the paraprofessionals union is the only one of 15 in Wallingford without health insurance. Health insurance is expensive, to be sure, but this group has clearly proven their value to the system as it now exists. Fairness, not to mention the importance of attracting and retaining the best possible staff for these critical positions, demands that this issue be resolved.
Perhaps the costs of including school paraprofessionals in the town’s health insurance plan can be offset by revisions in the overall plan, which I believe to be long overdue. At any rate, I hope with the new bargaining agreement coming in August this oversight can be rectified.
Michael Spiteri is a Wallingford Town Councilor
By Michael Spiteri, Town Councilor
Because of the increase in diagnoses of variable learning deficiencies, more mainstreaming of students with special needs, and the aggressive curriculum Wallingford Schools expect more than ever from the school system’s paraprofessionals.
Over the years, the teachers and the administration owe this group a huge amount of credit for Wallingford’s education system. Without adequate support, the faculty could never give the entire classroom spectrum the attention needed to meet our stringent graduation requirements.
I have to say that watching the "Wallingford Paras" video "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYALOgqnrg0" was an eye-opener, and I invite you to check it out for yourself. I'm sure it is also available at our fine library for those without access to the Internet.
School paraprofessionals are a relatively new professional group, but that doesn’t make them any less important to the success of a 21st-century school system.
I believe it is a shame that the paraprofessionals union is the only one of 15 in Wallingford without health insurance. Health insurance is expensive, to be sure, but this group has clearly proven their value to the system as it now exists. Fairness, not to mention the importance of attracting and retaining the best possible staff for these critical positions, demands that this issue be resolved.
Perhaps the costs of including school paraprofessionals in the town’s health insurance plan can be offset by revisions in the overall plan, which I believe to be long overdue. At any rate, I hope with the new bargaining agreement coming in August this oversight can be rectified.
Michael Spiteri is a Wallingford Town Councilor