To the editor:, As of February 2017, the Hopewell Valley Education Support Professionals Association (HVESPA), which consists of secretaries, paraprofessionals, maintenance workers and custodians, has been out of contract for a year and a half—and as such, our members have been working without a guarantee of the fair pay and benefits they have earned., Of the five associations in the Hopewell Valley Regional School District, the HVESPA contains the lowest paid workers in the district., There have been several articles written about the negotiation of this contract, each of which has featured a quote from the Board of Education President, Lisa Wolff, but has failed to include a quote from the employees’ union representatives. We feel that the current narrative is that the Board of Education is doing all they can to negotiate a fair bargaining agreement, but that narrative is one-sided and fails to include the reality of the situation., The Board of Education has repeatedly stated that they value the work that members of the HVESPA do. They may have children who personally benefit from the dedication of a school secretary, willing to stay late to ensure that no child is left without a ride home. They may have children who are safer because of the tireless efforts of our maintenance workers and custodians. Or they may have children whose educational experiences have been greatly improved because of our wonderful paraprofessionals., But the reality is that though the Board of Education may claim to value the work we do, the offers they have put forth during these negotiations have been categorically unfair., Until the Board of Education is willing to put action behind their words and make a fair and equitable offer, there will be no settlement., It is time for the Board of Education to reconsider their position. We stand firmly behind our bargaining team, and we will not accept less than we have earned., Patricia Armstrong, President of the Hopewell Valley Education Support Professionals Association,
To the editor:,
As of February 2017, the Hopewell Valley Education Support Professionals Association (HVESPA), which consists of secretaries, paraprofessionals, maintenance workers and custodians, has been out of contract for a year and a half—and as such, our members have been working without a guarantee of the fair pay and benefits they have earned.,
Of the five associations in the Hopewell Valley Regional School District, the HVESPA contains the lowest paid workers in the district.,
There have been several articles written about the negotiation of this contract, each of which has featured a quote from the Board of Education President, Lisa Wolff, but has failed to include a quote from the employees’ union representatives. We feel that the current narrative is that the Board of Education is doing all they can to negotiate a fair bargaining agreement, but that narrative is one-sided and fails to include the reality of the situation.,
The Board of Education has repeatedly stated that they value the work that members of the HVESPA do. They may have children who personally benefit from the dedication of a school secretary, willing to stay late to ensure that no child is left without a ride home. They may have children who are safer because of the tireless efforts of our maintenance workers and custodians. Or they may have children whose educational experiences have been greatly improved because of our wonderful paraprofessionals.,
But the reality is that though the Board of Education may claim to value the work we do, the offers they have put forth during these negotiations have been categorically unfair.,
Until the Board of Education is willing to put action behind their words and make a fair and equitable offer, there will be no settlement.,
It is time for the Board of Education to reconsider their position. We stand firmly behind our bargaining team, and we will not accept less than we have earned.,
Patricia Armstrong,
President of the Hopewell Valley Education Support Professionals Association