Teacher Aides and Food Service workers get just over minimum wage and no benefits even after many years of service. Superintendent Walker promises a “fair” agreement.
I’m friends with one of the hardworking cafeteria workers. She is lovely, works so hard as all these people do and are paid so little. She told me what her raise was once. It was literally almost nothing. The kitchen staff work in the heat and cold and are constantly in action. I hope all these people get healthy raises now thanks to this article shedding light on this. Thank you Mr. Balter!
Great awareness article and something that should open eyes and shame Croton CSD Administration. Croton is in the lower to mid-tier as far as Westchester school salaries, but this really has to be looked at as being grossly underpaid for that group (aides in particular).
I don’t see the rate alone as criminal if it was the year one step rate and they had a salary schedule with yearly steps that increased to the $20-30 range (as many other Districts in the area has, or contractual amounts that correlate with that range to get someone to 30-40k). The 20 cent increase after 6 years is insulting. The longevity levels are very cheap too. At best, someone will top out at 20-25k with these figures. In neighboring Districts, 30-40k range is more common after 15 or so years.
Most schools in the region hire third-party school lunch agencies which pay their personnel right above minimum wage, so I can’t comment or fault Croton too much for those rates (still too low by all). My comments are more directed at the aides.
By also offering no benefits, it’s clear Admin sees the aides as either a stepping stone job or a job for a stay at home person (not bread winner) or perhaps retiree. That’s really unfortunate. Teacher aides are the backbone of the classroom and most teachers or classrooms cannot function without them. They do toileting duties for students who need assistance from grades k-12 and it is a very grueling and thankless job at times.
Lastly, a district in good health and conscience can always open up negotiations and create an MOA at any time. For example, I’ve seen districts, especially the past few years with uncontrollable inflation, create an MOA to set up a one-time payment of $500-1,000 for their aides or assistants. It’s not life changing money, but at least a good will gesture to show some appreciation. For a District to simply say that they aren’t opening anything up until contract renewal is very toxic.
Thanks for these detailed and very astute comments. Hopefully these workers will now have serious community support as they enter into negotiations with the district.
My children greatly benefit from the hard work of Teacher Aides. I was shocked by how little they are paid. Very sad given that we have a massive school budget.
What a shame, Ms. Giordano and her mates deserve more. Alas, the scarcity of money due to a bloated system. Just another reason to consider school choice and tamp the union stranglehold, which can ultimately benefit those educators who truly make a difference and leave more money on the table for these workers.
I’m friends with one of the hardworking cafeteria workers. She is lovely, works so hard as all these people do and are paid so little. She told me what her raise was once. It was literally almost nothing. The kitchen staff work in the heat and cold and are constantly in action. I hope all these people get healthy raises now thanks to this article shedding light on this. Thank you Mr. Balter!
Great awareness article and something that should open eyes and shame Croton CSD Administration. Croton is in the lower to mid-tier as far as Westchester school salaries, but this really has to be looked at as being grossly underpaid for that group (aides in particular).
I don’t see the rate alone as criminal if it was the year one step rate and they had a salary schedule with yearly steps that increased to the $20-30 range (as many other Districts in the area has, or contractual amounts that correlate with that range to get someone to 30-40k). The 20 cent increase after 6 years is insulting. The longevity levels are very cheap too. At best, someone will top out at 20-25k with these figures. In neighboring Districts, 30-40k range is more common after 15 or so years.
Most schools in the region hire third-party school lunch agencies which pay their personnel right above minimum wage, so I can’t comment or fault Croton too much for those rates (still too low by all). My comments are more directed at the aides.
By also offering no benefits, it’s clear Admin sees the aides as either a stepping stone job or a job for a stay at home person (not bread winner) or perhaps retiree. That’s really unfortunate. Teacher aides are the backbone of the classroom and most teachers or classrooms cannot function without them. They do toileting duties for students who need assistance from grades k-12 and it is a very grueling and thankless job at times.
Lastly, a district in good health and conscience can always open up negotiations and create an MOA at any time. For example, I’ve seen districts, especially the past few years with uncontrollable inflation, create an MOA to set up a one-time payment of $500-1,000 for their aides or assistants. It’s not life changing money, but at least a good will gesture to show some appreciation. For a District to simply say that they aren’t opening anything up until contract renewal is very toxic.
Thanks for these detailed and very astute comments. Hopefully these workers will now have serious community support as they enter into negotiations with the district.
My children greatly benefit from the hard work of Teacher Aides. I was shocked by how little they are paid. Very sad given that we have a massive school budget.
What a shame, Ms. Giordano and her mates deserve more. Alas, the scarcity of money due to a bloated system. Just another reason to consider school choice and tamp the union stranglehold, which can ultimately benefit those educators who truly make a difference and leave more money on the table for these workers.