BCSD looking to expand sub pool

BONNERS FERRY — Boundary County School Board is looking at ways to expand its pool of paraprofessionals and substitute teachers.

“We are still trying to fill paraprofessional spots across the district for K-3 literacy,” Superintendent Jan Bayer told board members and the community at Monday’s meeting. “We [BCSD] have just received approval from the state for the STRAP program.”

BCSD was recently approved by the state to join the School to Registered Apprentice Program, or STRAP. By joining, BCSD will be able to hire 16- to 17-year-olds at the elementary schools to help with literacy. Under the program, which was approved by the Idaho Department of Labor, the students will be paid and earn school credit. If they pass their practicum and school requirement upon graduation they would be a certified paraprofessional.

“When they [students] graduate, they will be highly qualified paraprofessionals,” Bayer said.

According to the state website Idaho.gov, in order to participate in STRAP, students/apprentices must work a reduced work day and work week while attending and completing their high school requirements for graduation. If students do not attend and successfully complete required high school classes, they will not be allowed to participate in the program, state officials said on the website.

“The students work really well with the younger grades,” Bayer said.

When it comes to substitute teachers and staff, Bayer said there are 82 substitutes in the district all in different departments.

“We are receiving $22,000 from the governor,” said the superintendent. “As a leadership team we recommend that any sub that we currently have and has worked one day this year qualify for a $100 bonus in November.”

Bayer said any new substitute who starts from now until November would also receive a $100 bonus. Principals have been asked to track when teachers have worked their prep hour in order to give those teachers their hourly per diem, Bayer said.

“We’re trying to grow our sub pool,” Bayer said.

Trustee Nicki Weaver was concerned that the bonus would grow the subbing pool, but not grow commitment. This bonus could encourage someone to only sub for one day and then not return once the bonus was given, she said.

Weaver added that other subs that have been working for weeks and months straight may not like those who just started subbing to receive the same bonus.

While $22,000 may sound like a lot, Bayer said that with the 82 subs, the money would not go very far. She said she wanted to make sure every sub received at least one $100 bonus.

Funds are CARES Act funding and have to be given out in November, said the superintendent. Any remaining funds have to be spent and funds requested from the state by Dec. 15. A special payroll would run Dec. 1, any funds remaining would be divided amongst all the staff, Bayer said.

“So they may get more than $100, but we just need to see how many funds we have available,” she added.

On Monday, Bayer said classes were barely covered in the high school and middle school due to a staff shortage. Last week at the high school, three classes had to be held in the auditorium at the same time, Bayer said.

It is not just teachers out. A bus route up north had to be canceled one day due to the driver being out, said Bayer, adding that the big issue for the district at the moment is food service.

“We may need to find a way to centralize the food service,” Bayer said.

The motion to allow the bonus for subs in order to address sub staff recruitment and retention was approved by the board unanimously.

To apply for BCSD, go to https://www.bcsd101.com/departments/payroll-personnel