Board approves temporary staffing contracts as union warns of widespread paraeducator vacancies

The board on Oct. 13 approved Item 19h, a contract with a staffing agency to provide temporary paraeducator and one‑to‑one support, after an extended public and trustee discussion about large numbers of vacancies and the district’s hiring and permit processes. CSCA union leader Martha Houdegui told trustees the district faced “a large number of paraeducator vacancies” across preschool and other sites and criticized using outside agencies instead of filling positions internally.

District administrators explained agencies are used as an interim measure when existing staff are unavailable or when a student arrives needing immediate one‑to‑one services. Mr. Wood (special education administration) said the district “does always try to use our district staff first” but that agencies are relied on when positions cannot be filled in time to meet IEP requirements. Trustees pressed for a timeline: administrators said structural changes (including discussions about converting 3‑hour positions into 6‑hour positions and potential negotiated items) will be considered during the upcoming budget cycle and bargaining sessions.

CSCA asked the board to prioritize filling vacancies, noting specific sites with unfilled preschool paraeducator positions. Administration noted permit processing (state clearance) delays for preschool hires and explained emergency/temporary permit options may be available while paperwork processes—an interim approach staff said they would explore further and report back to the board.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 1792; topfinish SEG 2546

Speakers: ["Martha Houdegui (CSCA, speaker 4)", "Mr. Wood (special ed admin, speaker 22)", "Dr. Baker (superintendent, speaker 12)"]