Board tables award of special-education paraprofessional RFP after extended discussion on pay and vendor terms

The Glynn County Board of Education on June 10 tabled action on awarding a contract for special-education paraprofessional services after an extended discussion about vendor pay, markups, benefits and local hiring.

Mister Benson, a staff member, told the board the district had reissued an RFP for paraprofessionals and received about 20 responses. Benson said the responses included a proposal from ESS (a staffing vendor) that calculated an hourly rate of $22.45 based on the district’s current salary schedule; he said the RFP is intended as a back-up should the district be unable to fill positions through direct hiring.

Board members raised multiple concerns during the discussion: some noted the earlier Sunbelt contract had involved much higher bill rates; others questioned whether an outside vendor could recruit and fairly pay paraprofessionals while still charging the district a markup. During the discussion staff stated there is a noncompete clause in the RFP that would prevent a vendor employee from moving directly into Glynn County Schools for one year after working through the vendor.

Several board members asked staff to obtain more detail about the vendor cost structure, the actual wages paid to paraprofessionals by the vendor, and what benefits the vendor provides. Staff told the board that principals would review any roster of candidates supplied by a vendor and could interview and decline specific individuals.

After discussion the board decided to delay awarding the contract until the July meeting to allow staff to provide the requested clarifications and additional figures on pay and markup. Staff described the contract as a last-resort plan to ensure services required by student Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are staffed if direct hires are not available.

No award was made at the June 10 meeting; the item was pulled for further review and return to the board in July.