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Board approves amendment, adds funding for ESS substitute services; district cites higher demand and improved fill rates
Summary
Marion County School Board approved a fourth amendment to the district contract with ESS Southeast LLC and authorized additional funding to cover increased substitute usage and higher pay rates for hard-to-fill assignments.
Ocala — The Marion County School Board on March 25 approved a fourth amendment to the district’s contract with ESS Southeast LLC, the company that provides substitute teachers, and authorized additional funding the district said is needed to cover higher demand and to raise pay rates to attract more substitute teachers.
Superintendent Diane Gullett introduced the request; Mr. Carlisle from Human Resources presented details. Carlisle said the district is requesting an additional $2,000,000 for the 2024–25 school year “which would increase our total annual cost for the school year to $6,000,000.” He also told the board the district is asking to renew the contract for 2025–26 at a total projected cost of $6,500,000 because of higher daily rates and a plan to add a “hard to fill” premium for certain schools.
Carlisle gave operational detail: “To date, ESS’s fill rate for absences is 86%, which is a 6% increase over this time last year … ESS has filled 5,172 more assignments than this time last year,” he said, and described ESS staff’s campus-level support and increased substitute recruitment. The board heard a proposal to raise the daily substitute rate by $3 for a full day, $1.50 for a half day, and $8 for long-term continuous substitutes; the proposal also would add a hard-to-fill stipend of $15 for up to 10 schools per year.
At one point Superintendent Gullett used a larger aggregate figure in describing the amendment; she said the fourth amendment was “at a cost of 8,500,000.0.” Carlisle’s presentation then supplied the more granular figures above. The board’s discussion included questions about whether a $3-per-day increase would be significant; Carlisle and board members said they expected the rate change and the hard-to-fill premium to help recruitment and retention.
Board members also voiced broader concerns about teacher workload and retention, and asked staff to continue pursuing long-term solutions to shortages and absences. After questions, the board approved the amendment and additional funding by a 5–0 vote.
Ending — The board approved the fourth amendment and the requested funding increase; staff said they will report back on recruitment effects and on the fill rate going forward.
