“Something is better than nothing.”
That was the consensus of Quakertown Community School Board members Monday as they unanimously endorsed a pay increase for aides in a bid to combat a significant staffing shortage that has plagued the district for years.
Under the contract signed with the support staff union, QESPA, instructional aides will see their pay rate rise to $18 an hour, with general aides’ rate increasing to $15.41 an hour. Prior to the increase, aides had generally made $12 to $15 an hour.
All support staff will receive a 3.5% increase in July under their current contract.
“While the additional pay is nice, I’m not sure this is going to retain any current employees,” observed Angie Cassel, of Quakertown Borough, during public comment.
Cassel complained that, under the agreement, new instructional hires would start at the same rate as an employee who has been with the district for five years.
Cassel described what she characterized as a dismaying two-tiered system in the district: unlike teachers, district aides received no paid holidays, no paid in-service days, no tuition reimbursement and no paid lunch break. And she made a galling comparison with a recent McDonald’s ad — $17 an hour with full benefits, flexible schedule, full-time work, tuition reimbursement up to $3,500 and paid time off.
“I realize some people aren’t happy with the percentages; in July you do get another pay increase,” remarked Board President Todd Hippauf.
“I’m conflicted about this. It is more, so I’m in favor, but personally I don’t think it went far enough,” said director David O’Donnell, who noted that aides can make a significant amount more in districts such as Southern Lehigh and Palisades, which pays its IAs nearly $22 an hour after a probationary period.
The increase will cost the district $325,000, according to the preliminary 2023-2024 budget. As of March 18, there were 33 support staff vacancies on the district’s website.
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