Rally for Rockton School District paraprofessional pay raises issue to forefront

The less than 100 word version

A rally to support paraprofessional pay at the Rockton School District will take place on Monday 8 March from 5:30-6 p.m. at the Rockton Grade School (1050 E. Union St) just before the Committee of the Whole meeting scheduled to start at 6 p.m. This rally comes as paraprofessionals in the Rockton School District were given a 5% pay raise, which increased starting wages for paraprofessionals from $15 an hour to $15.75.

The 400 word version

A quiet crisis is bubbling within the Rockton School District, driven by low wages, sudden departures, and a breakdown in communication. In response, community members, teachers, and paraprofessionals are organizing a targeted demonstration ahead of Monday night's Committee of the Whole meeting, aiming to force leadership to reconsider its latest compensation package.

The unrest peaks following a school board vote granting paraprofessionals—crucial support staff for special education and classroom management—a 5% wage increase. This brings the starting rate to $15.75 an hour, a figure critics say falls short compared to neighboring districts like South Beloit ($17/hr) or Kinnikinnick, which offer better pay and health insurance benefits. Furthermore, staff felt blindsided when details of the raise were withheld until the morning of the last day of school.

At the center of the pushback is Doug Clayburg, a guest teacher ("Mr.C" )and former finance subcommittee member for Rockford Public Schools, who spent the final day of the school year doing damage control. "I spent much of our last school day trying to talk paras out of quitting," Clayburg said, noting he knows of at least 11 potential departures across the district's three schools.

Clayburg’s efforts began weeks earlier. On April 23, 2026, he wrote to the superintendent and board, drawing on his school finance background to challenge how current funds are allocated. He suggested scaling back administrative initiatives, like the Early Development Initiative, to prioritize essential frontline staff. Despite some polite email responses, Clayburg notes there has been zero actual follow-up with the affected paraprofessionals.

Fearing the board is relying on summer distraction to let the issue blow over, Clayburg and other organizers have launched a precise, coordinated strategy. Instead of an all-night protest, they are asking parents, teachers, and community members to commit to just 30 minutes of their time on Monday, June 8, starting at 5:30 p.m., specifically timed to when board members arrive.

"Ideally, when the board enters the meeting," Clayburg explained. "Let the board look into the eyes of as many community members as possible when they enter into business on Monday." Organizers hope the visual pressure will highlight the stressful nature of the job and prevent a mass summer exodus that would ultimately hurt the students.

The 800 word version

The unrest follows a recently approved vote on 18 May 2026 by the school board granting paraprofessionals—crucial support staff who work directly with special education students, provide classroom assistance, and manage student behavior—a 5% wage increase. The raise brings the district's starting wage for the role to $15.75 an hour.

For many, it is simply not enough to live on, let alone keep them from seeking employment in neighboring districts or retail jobs.

How Rockton School District's paraprofessional compensation compares to other local districts is a fair question. As of 2 June 2026, Prairie Hill School District's compensation starts at $15.75 an hour; South Beloit's $17 per hour. While Hononegah and Kinnikinnick's compensation are just of South Beloit at $16.92 and from $15-17 per hour respectively (one-on-one paras at Kinnikinnick are compensated the higher rate), both of those districts allow paraprofessionals to enroll in district health insurance plans.

Doug Clayburg, a guest teacher in the Rockton School District who is known in RSD hallways as "Mr. C" and previously served on the Rockford Public School District Budget and Finance Subcommittee, spent the final day of the school year doing damage control.

"I spent much of our last school day trying to talk paras out of quitting," Clayburg said. "I know for sure of two that said [they are leaving], and I’m told 11 from the district's three schools. Considering how they've been treated, I can't fault them."

Clayburg's actions did not start or stop on that final day of school. He wrote a letter to RSD's superintendent and school board on 23 April 2026. In the letter, Clayburg pointed out that an earlier outpouring of community support during public comment "brought tears to my eyes" and represented a much broader concern regarding non-certified hourly staff benefits.

Drawing on his past experience analyzing school finance alongside local business leaders, Clayburg challenged the board to look closely at how current funds are allocated, suggesting that certain administrative initiatives might need to take a backseat to frontline staff.

"Given this experience, it seems important to closely examine how RSD #140 funds are currently being allocated and to ensure that an asset as essential as the paraprofessional team is given appropriate priority and consideration," Clayburg wrote. "While initiatives such as Alignment Rockford’s Early Development Initiative (EDI) provide value, they may need to be reevaluated, scaled back, or reprioritized in order to better support other critical student needs."

According to Clayburg, the anger isn't just about the dollar amount—it's about the timing and a perceived lack of transparency. The administration allegedly communicated the specific details of the approved wage increase from the 18 May regular board meeting until the morning of the very last day of school, leaving many staff members feeling blindsided and undervalued as they headed into summer break.

With the school year over, organizers worry the board is relying on summer distraction to let the issue blow over. To combat this, a coordinated effort is underway to stage a rally outside Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.

The strategy is precise: organizers aren't asking for an all-night demonstration. Instead, they are asking parents, teachers, paras, and community members to commit to just 30 minutes of their time—specifically timed to when school board members arrive at the building.

"My fear is that summer break plays in favor of the board," Clayburg admitted. "Many will have other commitments. That’s why I’m just looking for attendees to commit to 30 minutes. Ideally, when the board enters the meeting. Let the board look into the eyes of as many community members as possible when they enter into business on Monday."

Organizers hope that drawing public and media attention to the rally will shed light on the rigorous, often stressful nature of a paraprofessional's responsibilities. If the district's low competitive wages lead to a mass exodus of support staff over the summer, the ramifications will fall squarely on the remaining teachers and, ultimately, the students who rely on dedicated one-on-one aid.

The Rockton School District Board of Education is scheduled to hold its Committee of the Whole meeting this coming Monday evening, 8 June starting at 6 p.m. While these meetings are typically non-voting sessions followed by closed-door discussions, the community intends to ensure that the voices of their most vulnerable educators are heard before the doors close.