A new statewide Bill of Rights campaign aimed at improving the wages, benefits and working conditions of school support staff was rolled out on Friday at the annual MEA conference for Education Support Professionals (ESP).

Modeled after similar campaigns launched in other states, including Maryland, Illinois and Massachusetts, the Michigan ESP Bill of Rights calls for six broad reforms to recognize and value the crucial role that school support staff play in ensuring a quality education for every student.

“One job should be enough,” said Roy Freeman, a longtime custodian from Dowagiac and MEA ESP Caucus president. “We shouldn’t have individuals that have to go out and work two and three jobs just to survive.”

The sought-after reforms were developed over the past year in meetings and surveys of school support staff across Michigan, said Jennifer Shelito, an IT Department secretary in Tuscola Intermediate School District and at-large director on the MEA ESP Caucus.

“We presented at conferences; we had 10 campaign captains that did 13 in-person events across the state, and over 1,200 ESP members answered a survey online,” Shelito said. “Now we need leaders and members to take this back to their locals and help educate all of Michigan ESP on our Bill of Rights.”

The input was analyzed and developed into six reforms needed to better support workers and address staffing shortages:

• A thriving wage that can support a middle-class family
• Good health care and leave benefits
• Stronger workplace safety standards
• A secure and dignified retirement
• Development and advancement opportunities
• A secure job we can count on

“ESP have never, in my knowledge, taken on something this big to be recognized and to earn what they need and get the respect they deserve,” Freeman told conference goers. “Be proud of yourselves, and let’s get everybody we can to sign for support of the Bill of Rights. We will make this happen.”

In other action at the MEA ESP Conference, longtime Ann Arbor paraeducator Percy Brown won the Leon A. Brunner Award for his lengthy service to fellow ESP members in multiple elected and appointed union leadership positions within MEA.

The senior member of the MEA Board of Directors, Brown is president and chief negotiator of the Ann Arbor Paraeducators unit (AAEA-P).

“When in doubt, everyone looks to Percy for the answers,” said Jim Sparapani, a retired bus driver and custodian and chair of the award committee, reading from a letter in support of Brown’s nomination by AAEA-P Vice President Crystal Kinard.

“He is very low-key but will speak up when needed. Percy is very active and respected on the local, state and national level and very deserving of this award.”

A hush fell over the crowded room as Brown delivered a characteristically soft-spoken acceptance speech, giving credit to MEA staff and ESP colleagues who work with him to bargain local contracts.

“I like to give credit where credit is due because no one can do it all,” Brown said. “I’ve always been one that believed in inviting everyone to the table, and I’m always willing to help. That’s what I do; I came from that kind of environment. My main motto is each one reach one teach one.”

Noncy Fields, a teacher and member of the Ann Arbor Education Association (AAEA) who nominated him for the award, gave examples of how Brown’s mentorship helped her develop as an AAEA delegate to the MEA Representative Assembly.

“Percy Brown is like your big brother that always has your back,” Fields said, calling the recognition “overdue” for his more than 30 years of contributions to the Ann Arbor and Michigan ESP communities.

Of his reputation for generously giving of his time and good advice, Brown said, “It’s like in football. We are one unit, one chain. When one chain breaks, we all fall.”