PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — With substitute teachers in short supply, the School District of Philadelphia is planning to shift to a new staffing provider.
Kelly Educational Services has been providing substitute teachers for the district since 2016, but it appears that arrangement will end when Kelly’s contract expires next June.
The school board on Thursday is expected to vote on a two-year, $58 million contract with ESS Northeast, a national staffing firm.
“A new contract is needed to ensure continuous support for schools,” reads the resolution on Thursday’s agenda.
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To attract more candidates, Kelly in October announced a $50 bump in daily pay for substitute teachers and an extra $100 for nurses.
The firm at the time was only filling a reported 41% of the substitute slots, and Kelly officials have not said whether the bonus money made a difference.
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A Kelly representative told KYW Newsradio the company preferred to withhold any comment until after the board meeting.
“The district appreciates the relationship we’ve had with Kelly Services and the support they’ve offered,” district spokeswoman Monica Lewis said. She, too, declined further comment until after the board meets.
