BUSHNELL (6/29/2021) - In preparation for the school year ahead, SCESP and District leadership have reached agreements regarding the extension of work hours for select ESP and a continuation of the paid internship option for ESP participating in the Para to Pro program through St. Leo.
You may already be aware that the federal government has made a significant investment in K12 education through its COVID relief efforts. The portion of funds meant to be distributed to local school districts in the coming months are identified as ESSER (Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief) funds, and these dollars come with clearly defined purpose. You can read more about the appropriate ways that ESSER dollars may be expended here.
One of the primary uses for these funds is to offer interventions meant to address learning loss due to lost instructional time as a result of COVID. Through an agreement reached with SCEA, teachers in Sumter County Schools will extend their workday to provide for additional instructional time throughout the 2021-22 school year. Obviously, in order to make this extra instruction possible for our students, ESP whose responsibilities directly support student learning throughout the day will be needed. To ensure the identified members of our bargaining unit are appropriately compensated for the additional daily minutes, SCESP has signed the following Memorandum of Understanding (MOU):
Additionally, the school board agrees to continue offering paid internships as an option for ESP participating in the Para to Pro program through St. Leo. While the rate of pay during the internship may be significantly less than many of our paras currently make, paras would otherwise be required to take an unpaid leave from their current position with the District to complete their internships. This agreement ensures a continuation of an income and benefits throughout. This agreement also benefits the District as paraprofessionals completing the program can be quickly placed into instructional vacancies.
