October 15, 2008
Fosters
ROCHESTER — The School District’s paraprofessionals are up in arms after an e-mail urging city councilors to vote down the group’s proposed contract renegotiation referred to them as “arrogant elitists.”
“My first reaction when I heard the comments was: ‘Who are these people? I don’t even know them, how are they judging me?’” said Roxanne Ajemian, a para-educator at Spaulding High School. “I think many people don’t know what we do and how much work it is.”
The e-mail that started the controversy was sent to councilors last week by Rob and Doris Gates, who claimed the requests made in the contract were “outrageous and far beyond reason.”