OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KCTV) – Blue Valley schools have been cutting wherever they can to close a $10 million budget gap — and the latest group feeling the pinch is the people who work alongside your kids every day.
The Blue Valley school board approved changes Monday night to work calendars for classified employees — including paraprofessionals, bookkeepers, and registrars — reducing their duty days and eliminating paid holidays. The changes go into effect July 1.
Paraprofessionals, who work one-on-one with students in the classroom, are among those most affected. They told KCTV hourly pay ranges from $17 to $21, depending on years of service, but fewer duty days mean smaller paychecks.
- A para earning $18 an hour indicated she will lose approximately $2,800
- A para with 14 years of service, earning $21 an hour, said she will lose approximately $3,200
KCTV also heard from a classified staff member who works year-round. She said 12-month employees — which include high school bookkeepers and registrars — are being moved to 9-10 month schedules, reducing their duty days from 261 to approximately 215. That means not only a cut in take-home pay, but also reduced contributions to their KPERS retirement accounts.
Why it’s happening
The district projects a $10 million budget shortfall for the 2026-27 school year, driven by two factors: declining enrollment and the state’s chronic underfunding of special education…