Denver Public Schools Raises the Minimum Wage to $20 an hour.

Today is the dawn of a new era in Denver Public Schools.

Today the Denver Public Schools announced, in collaboration with four labor unions, a plan to substantially increase the minimum wage to $20.00 an hour for para-educators on August 1st, 2022, and also all hourly workers will be elevated to $20.00 an hour by the 2024/2025 school year. This new deal will impact the following labor unions. The Denver Federation of Paraprofessionals & Nutrition Service Employees (DFPNSE), the Communication Workers of America (CWA), the Colorado Federation of School Safety Professionals (CFSSP), and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU).

Below are the specifics of the plans for those impacted by these new changes:

The Denver Federation of Paraprofessionals & Nutrition Service Employees (DFPNSE):

• The starting hourly rate for a paraprofessional will be $20 effective 8.1.22 (26% increase from the current starting hourly rate of $15.87); $20.50 effective 8.1.23 (2.5% increase from the previous year), and $21 effective 8.1.24 (2.4% increase from the previous year). The starting hourly rate for Special Education Paraprofessionals will be $21 in 2022 (27.2% increase from the current starting hourly rate of $16.51); $21.50 in 2023 (2.4% increase from the previous year); and $22 in 2024 (2.3% increase from the previous year). The average base pay increase each year for paraprofessionals is 27.9% in 22–23, 4% in 23–24, and 3.4% in 24–25. The overall increase over the three years for paraprofessionals will average 37.7%.
• The starting hourly rate for our food service employees will be $18.00 in 2022 (13.4% increase from the current minimum of $15.87); $19 in 2023 (5.6% increase from the previous year), and $20 in 2024 (5.3% increase from the previous year). The average base pay increase each year for food service employees is 15.1% in 21–23, 7.1% in 23–24, and 6.8% in 24–25. The overall increase over the three years for food service employees will average a 31.7% increase.

Communication Workers of America (CWA):

• CWA — who represents our custodians — the starting hourly rate for our custodians will increase to $20 per hour by the 24–25 school year. Specifically, $18 in 7.1.22 (13.4% increase from current minimum of $15.87); $19 in 7.1.23 (5.6% increase from previous year); and $20 in 7.1.24 (5.3% increase from previous year). Our custodians' average base pay increases are: 14.1% in22–23; 7.1% in 23–24; and 6.4% in 24–25. The overall base pay increase over the three years will average 30.1%.

Colorado Federation of School Safety Professionals (CFSSP):

• CFSSP — represents our patrol officers — the starting hourly rate for patrol officers will be $27.50 effective 8.1.22 (10.3% increase from the prior starting hourly rate of $24.04); $28.50 effective 8.1.23 (5.2% increase from the previous year); $29.50 effective 8.1.24 (4.4% increase from the previous year).

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU):

• ATU — represents our bus drivers and transportation maintenance employees — the starting hourly rate for bus drivers will be $24.40 effective 8.1.12 (a 19.4% increase from the prior starting hourly rate of $20.431). Bus drivers will receive, on average, a 12.5% increase. Transportation maintenance employees’ starting hourly rate will be $22.42 effective 8.1.22 (21.1% increase from the prior starting hourly rate of $18.52).

I was the first para-educator elected to the Denver School Board, so I know firsthand what it means to make poverty wages. I earned $12.00 an hour when I worked in Denver Public Schools, forcing me to work multiple jobs to pay my bills; this is the unfortunate reality for many of our hourly workers in Denver Public Schools. Because of my experience, I became the leader for a $20.00 an hour minimum wage on the Board of Education. I have never waivered on this commitment. I am grateful my colleagues have endorsed this measure because of the lived experience they bring to the Board of Education.

This is a monumental step forward in Denver Public Schools to be a district that truly values its hourly workers, and I acknowledge this is not enough. Still, it’s a substantial increase and a commitment to those who do some of the most challenging jobs in the Denver Public Schools. For those that have dedicated their lives to Denver Public Schools, I understand that some may have feelings about this increase for all without a specific increase; for those that have dedicated years to Denver Public Schools making less than $20.00 an hour, I understand your concerns. I am committed to working with your union leaders to brainstorm solutions. I applaud the work of our unions because they did NOT give in and held their ground. This win is dedicated to their hard work!

This NEW DEAL will impact thousands of hourly workers across the Denver Public Schools. In March of 2022, I brought forward an amendment to Executive Limitation 13 to increase our minimum wage across the district to $20.00 an hour, with a $1.00 an hour increase over the next five years. However, some of my colleagues did not believe this was the time to bring this forward, so this amendment was tabled indefinitely. To ensure that I respect our governing documents, I waited on this day to see the district and our unions come to an agreement. Not only will I vote to adopt these contracts, but now I will also work to cement their hard work into district policy in executive limitation 13.

“WE DID IT, JOE!” — VP Harris

Signed,

Tay M. Anderson, Vice President of the Denver School Board