In contentious meeting Wednesday night, outraged teachers aides let Albuquerque Public Schools leaders have it over their pay.
Their outrage stemmed from raises given to three assistant superintendents, and a pension raise for Superintendent Winston Brooks.
The district's educational assistants make an average of $13,000 annually in their full time position. They haven't seen a raise in four years.
The district's educational assistants make an average of $13,000 annually in their full time position. They haven't seen a raise in four years.
"We had a slap in the face," educational assistant Jennifer Kruger said. "We would appreciate you realizing that you could not run the schools without us!"
Education assistant Feliz Gauna said perhaps the top leaders deserve the raises, but they could live without the extra money, unlike herself and her colleagues.
"We are below poverty," she said, pounding the podium. "Let me repeat that, we are below the poverty (level)."
The assistants said they do their job because they love the children, many who have special needs.
"We know it's a service. We know that we're going to make a difference," Albuquerque Educational Assistants Association President Kathy Chavez said. "We do make a difference everyday in those classrooms. Everyday, we do that."
But, she said, they can't continue to live like this.
APS Board President Paula Maes said their hands are tied.
"There is nothing APS can do," she explained to Action 7 News after the meeting. "It has to come from the legislature."
Chavez has launched a campaign to gather support and show lawmakers in Santa Fe.
Education assistant Feliz Gauna said perhaps the top leaders deserve the raises, but they could live without the extra money, unlike herself and her colleagues.
"We are below poverty," she said, pounding the podium. "Let me repeat that, we are below the poverty (level)."
The assistants said they do their job because they love the children, many who have special needs.
"We know it's a service. We know that we're going to make a difference," Albuquerque Educational Assistants Association President Kathy Chavez said. "We do make a difference everyday in those classrooms. Everyday, we do that."
But, she said, they can't continue to live like this.
APS Board President Paula Maes said their hands are tied.
"There is nothing APS can do," she explained to Action 7 News after the meeting. "It has to come from the legislature."
Chavez has launched a campaign to gather support and show lawmakers in Santa Fe.
But the union felt duped when news of the raises made headlines.
"Everyone was signing. They were agreeing, and believing what we were saying," Chavez said. "Then boom, all hell broke loose."
The APS Board President said those raises saved the district money because the top positions now have to do extra duty.
The educational assistants said they have been doing extra work for the past four years.
At the end of the meeting, the school board ratified the AEAA's contract. It doesn't include a raise.
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"Everyone was signing. They were agreeing, and believing what we were saying," Chavez said. "Then boom, all hell broke loose."
The APS Board President said those raises saved the district money because the top positions now have to do extra duty.
The educational assistants said they have been doing extra work for the past four years.
At the end of the meeting, the school board ratified the AEAA's contract. It doesn't include a raise.
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