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Committee refers RFP for absence‑management and staffing services after adding training and background‑check requirements
Summary
The operations committee voted to refer an RFP to the full board to hire absence‑management and staffing services (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2029). Staff told members the RFP and contract will require agencies to certify background checks and provide CPI and mandated‑reporter training prior to placement.
The Bridgeport operations committee on April 1 referred to the full board a request for proposals to provide absence‑management and staffing services — including substitutes, paraprofessionals and related coverage — for July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.
Dr. Cialo introduced the RFP and said district leadership will include training requirements in both the RFP and the subsequent contract so that bidders certify background checks and provide required compliance training before staff are deployed in Bridgeport Public Schools. Committee members asked whether contracted agency staff would be required to meet the same checks and training as district employees; staff replied that the agency must certify background checks and will be required to provide specified training (examples discussed included CPI restraint/de‑escalation and mandated‑reporter training).
Members also raised questions about performance metrics in proposals — notably vacancy fill‑rate targets and how monetary givebacks or penalties for missed targets would be structured. Staff explained that fill rate will be expressed as a percentage and that bidders will propose the financial incentives or penalties tied to their proposed fill rates; the RFP will evaluate proposals on those terms.
The committee moved and seconded to refer the RFP to the full board; the referral passed. Staff said they will incorporate clarifying language about task expectations (for example, diapering in certain early‑childhood settings or one‑to‑one support) and training requirements and will return the draft to the board for full‑board action.
