Temporary teaching jobs a hopein Lynn

LYNN – It is not exactly a morale boost the 92 licensed teachers laid off by the Lynn Public Schools are looking for, but Superintendent Nicholas Kostan did provide a small glimmer of hope for some teachers at Wednesday night’s School Committee meeting.Kostan told the School Committee that laid-off teachers still looking for work could receive calls to replace employees who take time off for medical or maternity leave, jobs that in the past had gone to retired employees.As the School Department continues to explore grant funding as a way to restore more teaching jobs for next year, Kostan said he has put together a list based on seniority of teachers who could receive a call back if a position opens up or funding becomes available for any reason.”Things will be a little bit different this coming year as people who have been laid off could get called back if some other people go on leave,” said Kostan. “I have a seniority list to go by to put them back if jobs become available.”The discussion stemmed from talks over how the School Department goes about re-hiring retired employees to do temporary work during the school year.Deputy Superintendent Jaye Warry told the Committee that retirees are often hired to fill in for teachers on leave, but more frequently are used for such jobs as professional mentoring for teachers who are in the process of achieving licensure.The Department of Education requires young teachers who are working toward professional status to participate in a mentoring program in the district where classes are observed and teachers are advised.Wary said much of this work is conducted during the day when it is difficult for current employees to take on more work, and hiring retired teachers helps the department because they are paid only for their time worked and are not awarded additional benefits.”The advantage is that they come in, do the work and leave,” said Wary. “There are no benefits, no strings attached and it allows us to avoid hiring another administrator.”Wary said hiring laid off teachers to this position would be difficult, because retired teachers offer the most experience to those in their first few years on the job, but did agree with Kostan that laid off employees should fill in for teachers out on leave.The School Department made a $500,000 transfer to save the jobs of 10 teachers earlier this month, and is still exploring grant funding that could help save additional employees this summer.Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. proposed another plan Thursday night that would have saved three or four more teaching jobs at the expense of two highly paid “storekeepers,” but School Committee members voted down the idea prior to approving the budget Thursday night.Of the 10 teachers who were retained for next year, Kostan said only one and a half of those employees have actually been assigned, while the other eight and a half will not find out where they are going until early next year.Kostan’s reasoning is that he wants to take a look at enrollment changes at some schools and see where the teachers are needed the most.