A new statewide Bill of Rights campaign aimed at improving the wages, benefits and working conditions of school support staff was rolled out recently 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.”

Freeman shared the story of a school employee in Michigan who had to take on a third job to afford health insurance for her family after her husband became seriously ill.

“That should never happen,” he said. “Anybody that works in education deserves to have health care benefits from day one.”

About 70% of education support professionals — which includes bus drivers, paraeducators, secretaries, custodians, food service workers, assistants and more — live in the communities where they work, Freeman said.

“We know not only the students but the parents, and we make those connections. We take care of the buildings; we bring the kids to school and feed them; we make sure they get the care and mentoring that they need. Without us, there is no education.”

Add your name to the list of endorsers for the Michigan ESP Bill of Rights!

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
• Full benefits
• Workplace safety
• Secure retirement
• Advancement opportunities
• Job security

“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.”