The Lake Washington Education Support Professionals (LWESP) recently wrote a letter to the editor about their upcoming bargaining for a new contract with the school district. I read the letter with dismay. Their current pay is so low that single members are working extra jobs and some members’ children could qualify for free/reduced lunch. I investigated their claim and found the average pay is only $19 per hour – hardly enough to live in the community. In further investigation, I discovered the average LWESP has 55 sick days in reserve, evidence they are dedicated individuals performing their jobs despite their inadequate compensation.

I am a school counselor in the Lake Washington School District. I rely on the ESP’s (particularly the school secretary and office manager) to do my job more efficiently. School secretaries/office managers have a pulse on the school and the community and perform numerous tasks that relate directly to the well-being of every student and staff member (i.e. calling parents if a child is not at school, managing the Health Room, balancing building budget, order and stock supplies, minor repair of office equipment, answering hundreds of phone calls, assisting in fire drills and lock-downs, writing weekly newsletter to staff/parents, scheduling the principals appointments). Their role is so vital to the operation of the school that it is incomprehensible that they do not even earn a living wage!

I have worked in five school districts in my 27-plus years in education and Lake Washington is far the superior. I believe the No. 1 contributing factor is the caliber of the employees. Everyone deserves a fair wage for work performed, a fair wage to educate their children and a fair wage to live in the community.

Marian Illingworth, school counselor, LWSD