August 06, 2013

Contracting out the recruitment and appointment of substitute teachers

Contracting out the recruitment and appointment of substitute teachers
Appeal of Kim E. Woodarek, Comm. Of Education Decision No. 15,422

The Commissioner of Education ruled that a school district does not have the authority to enter into a contract with a private party to recruit, interview, select, hire and assign employees to render per diem substitute teaching.

The Commissioner applied the rationale set out in the Sweeney decision [(44 Ed Dept Rep 176, Decision No. 15,139)]. In Sweeney it was held that a BOCESdoes not have the authority to contract with a private party for instructional services.

Other appeals in which the Commissioner determined that a board of education lacks authority to provide instructional services through an independent contractor include Appeal of McKenna, 42 Ed Dept Rep 54, Decision No. 14,774; Matter of Friedman, 19 Ed Dept Rep 522, and Decision No. 10,236. [See, also, Education Law §1950(4)].

The decision is posted on the Internet at:
http://www.counsel.nysed.gov/Decisions/volume46/d15422.htm