Former Rochester para says they're under appreciated, under valued and underpaid

Rochester Schools Superintendent Kyle Repucci, left, and Shelley Grosky (Repucci/Rochester Voice file; Grosky/Courtesy)

ROCHESTER - Hilltop Fun Center in Somersworth recently sent out an email blast boasting that their starting pay had risen to $14 an hour.
Unbelievably, a starting para-educator working in the Rochester School District makes less.
The current contract sets a para's starting pay at $12.27.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to why paras are leaving Rochester in droves, said former Rochester para-educator Shelley Grosky.
"Paras are leaving the Rochester schools because they don't feel valued," said Grosky, who now works as a para in a different school district she didn't want identified for fear of retaliation. "It's evident from not being able to work remote days, having our pay docked for two-hour delays and for remote days. It's pay and benefits, but it's also that many don't feel valued."
Since July, 14 para-educators have resigned from Rochester schools, according to documents obtained by The Rochester Voice.
Rochester Schools Supt. Kyle Repucci, while not commenting specifically on the severity of the shortage, admitted on Monday that, "Like many communities across our state and country, we are short-staffed."
Grosky, who lives in Rochester, said after being hired at another district, her annual pay went from $17,000 to 28,000, a more than 60 percent hike.
She said she now gets paid for lunch and if there is a two-hour delay, she gets paid for it, just like the teachers.
Grosky also said she got health insurance on day one, and was qualified for state retirement, both of which were lacking in Rochester.
"In Rochester paras are under appreciated and under respected," said Grosky who had worked as a para in Rochester for 10 years. She said that the Rochester School District needs to increase the para pay scale by 25 percent, make their lunch time paid, not dock their pay for delays and allow them to be part of the state retirement system.
"Paras are vital because they help classroom teachers deal with behavior issues," Grosky said, adding that not long ago she'd had her nose broken by a Rochester student she was trying to deal with behaviorally.
She said in her new district the schools are fully staffed with paras and substitutes, something that is missing in Rochester.
Repucci said in a recent statement sent The Rochester Voice that paras in Rochester are, in fact, valued.
"The para-educators on staff are highly valued by our school board, administration, teachers, and parents." Repucci said. "We are currently in para-educator contract negotiations and it would be improper for me to discuss those negotiations; however, it is important to note that the current contract was agreed upon just prior to the pandemic which caused hourly rates to increase."
He added that the school board also authorized a Covid stipend of $1,500 for paras who worked prior to and throughout the pandemic.