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1		SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, Education Support Professionals (ESPs) are the
3		backbone of Pre-K through 12 public education and also work in
4		higher education institutions; more than half a million
5		Education Support Professional members across the country take
6		care of our children every day; they ensure all students have
7		the tools they need to succeed in our schools, classrooms, and
8		higher education institutions; ESPs are comprised of nine
9		career families working in clerical services, custodial and
10		maintenance services, food services, health and student
11		services, security services, skilled trades, technical
12		services, and transportation services and as paraeducators;
13		ESPs are not treated, respected, nor valued the same as
14		teachers; and
15		WHEREAS, ESPs interact daily with students, parents, and
16		staff; responsibilities include, but are not limited to,
17		processing and maintaining vital, confidential data and
18		student records; and
19		WHEREAS, ESPs keep schools open, operational, safe,
20		accessible, and clean for students, staff, and the community
21		at all times; they are responsible for ensuring proper indoor
22		air quality and for complying with ROE state regulations and
23		federal OSHA standards for safety operations in the school

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1		buildings; and
2		WHEREAS, ESPs ensure that students have access to safe and
3		nutritious meals and ensure that school districts are
4		complying with the federal free and reduced meal guidelines;
5		and
6		WHEREAS, ESPs perform a wide variety of health assistance
7		that improves and protects student health and welfare; their
8		responsibilities include, but are not limited to, traditional
9		tasks of providing first aid, monitoring immunizations,
10		conducting health screenings, and assisting sick and injured
11		children; ESPs also provide education that encourages students
12		to maintain good health independently; and
13		WHEREAS, ESPs perform professional responsibilities that
14		contribute directly to student achievement by providing direct
15		services to students and their families, including academic,
16		social emotional, behavioral, English as a second language,
17		special education, and medical and life skills support for
18		general education to ensure all students receive fair and
19		equitable educational opportunities; and
20		WHEREAS, ESPs have a clear understanding of not only
21		security techniques but also the unique nature of the school
22		population with whom they work; on a broader level, they are

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1		active in designing and implementing security policies and
2		crisis response plans; and
3		WHEREAS, ESPs maintain and improve the physical quality of
4		school buildings, offices, and facilities; they work behind
5		the scenes to repair, maintain, and operate machinery that is
6		essential to the smooth functioning of the school; and
7		WHEREAS, ESPs lead the effort to maintain high standards
8		of technology and communication in our schools; they install,
9		repair, and upgrade computers and networks that enable the
10		timely communication of essential information between parents,
11		school district employees, and students; and
12		WHEREAS, ESPs transport students to and from school
13		safely, and an ESP is the first people to greet each student in
14		the morning and last to say goodbye as they return home; ESPs
15		operate and maintain all of a school system's vehicles; in
16		addition to driving, often in bad weather or heavy traffic,
17		they are responsible for first aid and emergency evacuation
18		procedures, student conduct and discipline, and the safe
19		transportation of students with special needs; all employees
20		in a district's transportation department stay up-to-date on
21		new safety requirements, regulations, and policies; and
22		WHEREAS, The starting salaries of ESPs begin at $10.00 per

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1		hour for the 2020-2021 school year in the state of Illinois
2		according to the ISBE Non-certified Salary Study; ESPs also
3		often do not qualify for health benefits or use most or all of
4		their wages to pay for health benefits; some ESPs earn at or
5		near poverty level and qualify for government assistance; many
6		ESPs must work more than one job to provide for their families;
7		therefore, be it
8		RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
9		ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
10		REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that Education Support
11		Professionals in public schools should be treated with the
12		same respect, recognition, value, and standards as teachers
13		and should no longer be second class citizens within the ranks
14		of public education; these professionals provide invaluable
15		services to school communities; and be it further
16		RESOLVED, That we urge the General Assembly to seek
17		solutions via study and legislation that include, but are not
18		limited to, legislated salary parity, quality professional
19		development and training, and mandated access to health
20		benefits for all education support professionals.