LCC gets creative as hiring woes persist

LAUREL – Challenges have been met with innovation in filling some job vacancies at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School.

Tactics such as having high school students working during study hall, leaning on nearby Wayne State College students and hiring on individuals on a limited or part-time basis go a long way, but these are still not enough, said Superintendent Jeremy Christiansen.

“Unfortunately, the staffing shortages result in additional responsibilities for our existing staff and it also can result in less-than-ideal support for students, teaching and learning,” Christiansen said after last week’s school board meeting.

Several paraprofessional positions as well as a full-time custodial position remain open.

Two high school students are completing some custodial duties for about 3045 minutes daily after lunch rotations.

“This is new and is part of our creative efforts to address the staffing shortage in the custodial area,” Christiansen said.

A high school student is also undergoing the Project Para Career Pathway, a series of courses, training opportunities and experience that will lead to certification for either paraprofessional or childcare work.

Once she completes the program developed by the University of Nebraska- Lincoln and administered by the ESU Coordinating Council of Nebraska, she will be accepted into LCC’s Work-based Learning Program and employed as a paraprofessional in the elementary school or preschool for two hours per day.

A nearby Wayne State College student will be working as a substitute for special education at the middle school part of three days each week. The student is enrolled in an undergraduate teaching program and has successfully applied for a local substitute certificate through the Nebraska Department of Education.

“They are able to substitute-teach a limited number of days each year, but this certainly provides them with valuable hands-on experience in schools and working with students,” Christiansen said.

Two former employees have been hired as paraprofessionals, one starting next month and the other working three days a week.

And finally, Hailey Osantowski joined LCC last week as a student teacher. She will serve in that role through Dec. 8 and then will become a full-time contracted teacher for special education at the middle school for the remainder of the year.

At last week’s school board meeting, Christiansen also provided an update on the school construction progress.

The connecting hallway transition between the current high school academic wings and the industrial shop, Family & Consumer Science learning space and library will be completed in the next few weeks.

“This will be a welcome next step to alleviate the need to have students and classes transition outdoors when going to the library or to the downtown shop location by bus,” Christiansen said.

Additional concrete for parking on the south side of the new building is next up with completion in four-five weeks.

For the elementary school renovation and addition, rooms have been framed and utility positions roughed-in.

In other school board news, board member Jay Hall was nominated and selected as the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB) delegate assembly representative.

He will have the responsibility to attend the NASB delegate assembly meeting at the upcoming state education conference. Each member district is represented and is afforded a vote on association topics on issues ranging from legislative priorities to oversight of association business, Christiansen said.

The next board meeting is set for 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 13, at the Coleridge campus’ Middle School building.