Transportation and special needs employees needed at North Allegheny

The North Allegheny School District has mounted a “full-court press” to fill open positions, particularly support staff in special needs classrooms and bus drivers.

“We have a lot of drivers in the pipeline,” said Marijane Treacy, human resources director, during a presentation to the North Allegheny School Board, which met Sept. 20. “We are looking for folks who are truly interested in helping our students by transporting kids in our district and the willingness to learn.”

Treacy presented a “snapshot” of staffing and enrollment taken on the third-day of the school year, reflecting conditions on that day, which fell this year on Aug. 23. The annual report is required by the state Department of Education.

North Allegheny has an obligation to provide busing for all school-age residents of the school district who attend any school, public, parochial, or private, within 10 miles of the district’s border.

Bus problems surfaced on NA’s first day of the school year after one of the district’s contracted bus providers went out of business, leading to an abrupt cancellation of bus transportation for private and parochial students.

NA provides transportation to students attending 15 public or parochial schools. As of Sept. 26, NA restored service to all but two. NA was still trying to find bus contractors to transport students to Eden Upper and Eden Wexford.

The district’s Director of Operations Mark Trichtinger — who handled the operations of the transportation department — resigned effective Oct. 2.

The district also is struggling to fill spots in other areas, particularly support staff for special needs classrooms and teachers.

“Some people have thrown around ‘crisis,’ ” school board Director Elizabeth Warner said. “I don’t know if we’re in a crisis right now. But if we reach that point, I hope we can put on some of that full-court press making sure our special education assistant positions are staffed, and we’re meeting the needs of those students who need those kinds of assistance in the classroom.”

Treacy said some leaves of absences and transfers at the beginning of the year affected the staffing.

School board Director Paige Hardy noted she heard of challenges of finding staff for special students, particularly at Marshall Middle School.

Treacy said similar needs exist at multiple buildings in the district.

NASD listed openings on its website as of Sept. 27 for two paraprofessional/special education assistants, one assistant to serve Marshall Middle and the other to serve multiple buildings. An autistic/life skills support teacher is needed for the high school.

Special education assistants “work collaboratively with Inclusion facilitators, special education teachers and regular education teachers to provide students with academic, emotional, social, behavioral, and physical support,” according to the online job description.

“Special education assistants help some of our students who have challenges, and it’s a really rewarding position,” Treacy said.

Pay for special education assistants is listed at $18.43 per hour, according to the online job advertisement. A benefit package is available.

Overall, employment seems to be constantly fluctuating, typical of a district NA’s size, Treacy said. According to the third-day report, there were 8,494 students enrolled.

“HR can feel like a game of Whac-A-Mole. You get one (job) filled and another one opens up,” she said.

In regard to transportation, NA is actively recruiting and training. Treacy noted at the Sept. 20 meeting that the third-day report didn’t reflect five new trainees just that day.

The district is advertising for a new director of transportation. Transportation experts also were brought in as temporary consultants. as well as the return of training safety/coordinator.

Hourly rates for bus driver substitutes is $19.50 per hour, and full-time bus drivers at $22.66 per hour. The district is paying sign-on bonuses for bus drivers who are hired or rehired by Oct. 31, according to Treacy’s report. Retired bus drivers who return to work will be paid more than their previous salary, according to the report.

The district is also looking for part-time student services assistants, custodians, maintenance, diesel mechanics, data specialists in technical services department and teaching substitutes.

Overall, the human resources department brought on approximately 100 employees since the start of school. As of Aug. 23, NA employed 1,180 people, including administrators; professional employees, including teachers; paraprofessionals; confidential employees; custodial maintenance; bus drivers; garage and mechanics.