District staff presented an overview of a proposed contract with ESS, a private company that supplies substitute teachers and paraprofessionals, at the Aug. 26 meeting as the first of two required regular-meeting appearances before potential approval. A presenter identified for the overview described ESS as comparable to other staffing agencies but said ESS offers competitively priced services and assumes workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and payroll taxes—factors the district’s analysis found could lower net costs compared with other options.
The presenter described operational features: ESS would integrate with the district’s existing absence-request system (Frontline/ASAP), offer trained substitutes able to input grades and follow lesson plans, and perform biweekly site visits and professional development for its substitutes. "They will provide substitute teachers who are trained to input grades, who are trained to do lesson plans, who are trained to do classroom management," the presenter said.
Board policy requires new initiatives to appear twice in regular meetings for public discussion; the presenter and superintendent confirmed the item will return for a formal approval vote at the Sept. 9 regular meeting. Trustees and audience members asked about scope and hiring processes: the presenter said ESS can staff teachers, paras and some custodial positions, that current district substitutes remain eligible to work, and that community applicants could still apply to be part of the district sub pool. No contract was executed at this meeting; the board will consider approval at the next regular session.