7. APPOINTMENTS/SUBSTITUTES

7.1 Temporary Appointments

7.1.1 Temporary appointments shall normally be made to fill positions vacated as a result of an extended leave and shall not exceed the length of the leave. When unusual circumstances inhibit the filling of an extended leave vacancy, the circumstances will be reported to Division of Human Resources. Temporary appointments may also be made to cover peak workload periods or other extenuating circumstances. Temporary appointments to fulfill these short term needs shall normally not exceed four months.

When filling vacancies created as a result of an extended leave, the principal/supervisor shall make every attempt to fill the vacancy with a qualified employee. An on site permanent ESP may be selected to fill the temporary position.

A permanent employee serving this temporary assignment (acting) will be paid a minimum of 4% above their regular rate of pay if the assignment is in a higher classification. When the temporary assignment is complete, the ESP will return to their regular rate of pay and their former position.

With the recommendation of the site supervisor and prior approval of the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, a permanent employee may be appointed to a higher classification in a permanent vacancy. The ESP will be allowed to qualify for that position. The ESP must qualify within 12 months of his/her appointment or be returned to his/her previous position.

7.1.2 Principals/supervisors are to consider ESP employees who are on a temporary assignment prior to recommending new applicants.

7.1.3 ESP employees appointed on a temporary basis shall not receive fringe benefits, except those appointed to positions which will exist beyond four months or those appointed to replace employees on leave of absence for more than six months. In these cases, employees will be enrolled for retirement and complete Social Security participation.

7.1.4 All paraprofessional positions filled during the second semester shall be considered temporary appointments with the exception of those areas designated as critical shortage areas by the Division of Human Resources.

7.2 Half-Day ESP Employees

7.2.1 Whenever a full-time opening occurs in a job category in which half-day ESP employees are employed, the administrator involved shall consider replacing the ESP from among the half-day ESP employees already employed within the school or department before hiring outside applicants.

7.3 Substitute ESP Employees

7.3.1 When a school based clerical has been absent two consecutive days, a substitute may be provided for the third day of absence and all days thereafter until the regular employee returns to work. Schools with two or fewer clerical personnel are permitted to employ a substitute immediately when an absence occurs. Offices having a clerical staff of one full-time and one half-time employee may allow the half-time employee to work full-time.

7.3.2 Substitute paraprofessionals shall be provided when the paraprofessional is absent in the Early Childhood program provided federal funds are available.

7.3.3 Paraprofessionals shall not be responsible for securing substitutes.

7.3.4 Any ESP Modified School Calendar school employee not employed during an intersession and that is interested in auxiliary employment, shall be eligible for ESP substitute opportunities available in the District during the intersession time period. This substitute employment will be paid at Step 1 of the rate of pay for the classification in which substitution occurs.

7.3.5 Those Modified School Calendar ESP employees interested in substitute assignments during the intersession period must notify their principal as soon as intersession hiring has been completed. Names of these ESP employees shall be provided to the Division of Human Resources. Notification of the ESP employees who will be available for substituting on appropriate dates and the process for using these employees will be sent to all principals. Notification of specific process information will be sent to all substituting Modified School Calendar ESP employees.

7.4 Restricted Appointments

7.4.1 A new employee hired in a restricted appointment may fill a position during an absence of the regular incumbent for a six months health leave of absence. An ESP holding a restricted appointment shall be qualified and is entitled to all rights and benefits as any permanent appointment except the right of tenure in the event the absent incumbent returns to the position. Any ESP given a restricted appointment will be informed of restrictions in writing.

7.5 Concurrent Appointments

7.5.1 An ESP employee may hold more than one permanent ESP position at the same time if the total regular working hours of the positions do not exceed forty hours per week. A permanent ESP may be hired in a temporary ESP position as long as the total regular working hours of the permanent position and the temporary position do not exceed forty hours per week.

7.6 Extended Year/Modified School Calendar Intersession Program Appointments

7.6.1 Paraprofessional extended year/Modified School Calendar Intersession program positions shall be filled only by paraprofessionals except when there are no paraprofessional applicants for a position.

7.6.2 Clerical extended year/Modified School Calendar Intersession program positions shall be filled only by clericals within the same work site. When there are no clerical applicants within the work site, the positions shall be filled by paraprofessionals from within the work site or by clericals from other work sites.

7.6.3 Application and hiring procedures shall occur separately for each intersession at a Modified School Calendar school.

7.7 ESP Employees Acting As Substitute Teachers

7.7.1 Unless approved under a School Improvement Plan that allows for supplemental pay, ESP employees shall not act as substitute teachers or be solely responsible for a classroom of students for more than twelve hours per calendar month.
The hour limitations listed above are set at maximum levels to allow for emergency situations. Normal conditions should only require the paraprofessional to cover for one-half hour per day during the teacher's lunch time.