Board extends ESS substitute staffing contract as members press for deeper data and a plan for para positions

The Nashua School Board approved a one‑year extension of the contract with ESS for substitute staffing services for fiscal year 2027 after an extended discussion about fill rates, cost and whether the district can or should bring some staffing functions in‑house.

Administration said the district recorded roughly 15,000 requests for substitute coverage this year; ESS fills ran at approximately 70% of requests. Administration described ESS’s local structure — a full‑time recruiter embedded with the district, automated call/accept systems and a broader pool of substitutes across multiple districts — and said bringing substitute staffing in‑house would require a significant HR investment and additional positions.

Board members pressed for more granular data on why staff are absent and on the distribution of substitute requests (how many employees, how many days per request), and asked for cost comparisons with nearby districts. Several members requested a deeper HR review and analysis of substitute patterns; administration said it has the underlying data and offered to provide a follow‑up presentation to the board and to the HR/personnel committee.

Public comment later in the meeting asked the board to address the future of instructional paraeducator positions after Title I reductions, noting that many long‑serving paras may be unable to perform district‑wide duties but can still provide classroom value. The board agreed to add personnel issues to future committee discussions and held a nonpublic personnel session during the meeting.

The ESS contract extension motion passed by roll call.