Aurora, CO — The Aurora Classified Education Support Professionals (ESPs) have secured the right to call a union election in Aurora Public Schools (APS) following a unanimous 7-0 vote by the school board. This policy change, approved after months of advocacy, allows ESPs to seek union recognition and negotiate a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Last school year, more than 60% of classified ESP employees signed a pro-union petition seeking collective bargaining rights. Previously, only licensed staff such as teachers had the ability to form unions within APS. ESPs include special needs paraeducators, bus drivers, nutrition workers, custodians, and other support roles that are considered vital for daily school operations.
“We’re incredibly excited that the school board has taken this historic vote and supported our colleagues,” said Linnea Reed-Ellis, president of the Aurora Education Association. “This decision represents a significant step forward for the hardworking education support staff who are essential to our schools’ daily operations. We believe that when we lift up all our workers — the bus drivers, custodians, nutrition workers, paraprofessionals, and more — we strengthen the entire educational ecosystem. Every person in our schools deserves fair compensation and respect for their contributions to student success.”
The effort began when Aurora ESPs submitted a petition at an August 19 board meeting requesting collective bargaining rights. After no action was taken initially, over one hundred ESPs attended an October board meeting to renew their demands. The recent policy ensures district management will remain neutral during any union election process.
“We’re fighting for ourselves and our students,” said Tiffany Barker, a paraprofessional with ten years of experience in APS. “We’re not able to do our job properly under current conditions; we don’t have the pay, resources, or training to do our jobs well and provide excellent care to our students. We need a say in the budget to make sure that students, their safety, and the staff who ensure it are the top priorities. With this policy passing, and our ability to call an election, I know that the staff who come after me will have the resources to stay in this district and make a better school system for students, especially those with disabilities and severe needs.”
Similar efforts are underway among education support professionals in other Colorado districts such as Summit County, Sheridan, and Thompson. Recent successful campaigns include Paraeducators of Cherry Creek—representing over 900 paraprofessionals—and Mountain Valley School District; both groups are currently negotiating their first contracts.
