Commissioners hurt school support staff

Editor,

The Worcester County Education Support Professionals Association (WCESPA) is deeply disappointed that the Worcester County Commissioners failed to fully fund the Board of Education’s budget request. This decision has direct consequences—not just for teachers, but for the lowest-paid employees in our schools: the support staff.

When funding falls short, education support professionals are often the first to lose out. Many of us are already working for wages that fall below a livable standard, and this year’s budget would have offered a long-overdue and much-needed raise. Denying that funding means denying dignity to workers who keep our schools running every single day.

We especially want to thank Commissioners Diana Purnell, Ted Mitrecic, and Eric Fiori for voting in favor of fully funding our schools. Your support of students and staff alike is appreciated and remembered.

To the remaining commissioners—we urge you to reflect on the impact of your decisions. Underfunding schools doesn’t just hurt teachers. It hurts nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, aides, secretaries, technical support and bus drivers—the very people who make safe learning possible.

Ivory Smith
Berlin

(The writer is the president of the
Worcester County Education Support
Professionals Association (WCESPA.)