Board approves certificated substitute pool amid questions about outside vendor use (4–1)

The Beverly Hills Unified School District board voted 4–1 on Tuesday to approve the district’s certificated daily substitute teacher pool, a list of roughly 53 individuals cleared through personnel services who have worked at least 10 days in the district.

Board members debated the vote because the district also uses an outside firm, Swing Education, to fill some specialized substitute assignments, particularly in special education and for long‑term placements. "Without approval, we basically walk into the school year reliant on only an external organization, and that would make me nervous," Doctor Seaman said, arguing the local pool provides continuity and candidates for long‑term vacancies.

Trustee Manacheri and others said the district hired Swing to pursue a different staffing model and expressed the goal that the substitute list would shrink as the external vendor is used selectively. Trustee Manacheri asked whether the district should renew the pool wholesale when other staffing models are being developed; Doctor Seaman said the current list reflects substitutes who met the district’s usage threshold and that approval does not require the district to use any particular substitute.

Discussion included how teachers select substitutes for day‑to‑day coverage and the role of retired teachers who return to fill positions in their content area. One trustee said she believes many of the names on the current list have provided long service and perform well.

Vote: The motion to approve the certificated substitute pool passed 4–1. Trustee Sabag cast the lone no vote.

Ending: Doctor Seaman said the pool will allow the district to fill sudden long‑term needs and that the list will be pared down in future cycles as the district adopts a more targeted approach with Swing Education.