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ESS account manager says substitute hires up and district spending on temps down; board asks cost‑benefit analysis
Summary
ESS presented a mid‑year report showing higher substitute staffing, improved fill rates and $400,000 lower spending compared with the prior year; board members raised concerns about pay, payroll partners and long‑term costs and asked the superintendent for a cost‑benefit analysis of ESS services.
ESS account manager Rose Quinion James told the Central Consolidated Schools Board on Jan. 21 that the company has hired 88 new substitute workers since July 1 and currently lists more than 200 substitutes available for the district.
Rose said the district’s overall absences have declined this year and ESS has filled long‑term positions, noting that 183 long‑term roles were staffed in the previous six months and that the district spent about $400,000 less on ESS substitution during the first half of the school year than the prior year. She described initiatives to recruit locally — including outreach at chapter houses and parent networks — and said ESS offers benefits, training, and incentives to retain substitutes.
Board members used the presentation to press ESS and the administration on recurring concerns: substitute pay, timeliness and reliability of payroll, and the district’s long‑term dependence on a vendor for core classroom staffing. ESS account manager Rose confirmed ESS partners with Paychex to run payroll and acknowledged historical problems with holiday payroll timing. She also said ESS provides weekly pay and that the company has added benefits such as paid sick leave for substitutes, 401(k) match, and discounted education certificates.
Board Member Aspis requested a written cost‑benefit analysis comparing ESS services with the district’s past approach; members said they wanted to understand whether the vendor arrangement yielded net savings once all administrative and quality issues were weighed. Superintendent Carlson and ESS representation agreed to prepare and provide the requested analysis to the board.
ESS staff said 85% of new substitutes hired in the previous six months identified as Native American and that ESS has worked with district HR on compliance training for substitutes. ESS also described partnerships to provide low‑cost STEM certificates and discounted degrees through Grand Canyon University to help build a local pipeline of school employees.
Ending: Superintendent Carlson accepted the board’s request to add a cost‑benefit analysis of ESS substitution services to the administration’s work plan; ESS representatives said they would work with HR and principals on pay, recruitment and other operational concerns raised by board members.
