The APEA stands by the right of fair compensation for education’s front-line workers — teachers, paraprofessionals, and clerical workers of the Amherst Pelham School District. Nationally, working people’s wallets have been hit hard this year–consumer prices increased by 4.2% since last April. Paraeducators are some of the lowest paid workers in the district, many making less than $25,000 a year to do valuable work that keeps our schools safe, welcoming, and accessible for our students. With the district’s base salary, newly-hired paraeducators would need to work 7 years to reach a living wage in Hampshire County. It is unacceptable that many of our schools’ front-line workers cannot earn enough to sustainably live in Amherst. We are urging the District to offer our members reasonable cost of living increases for next year.