The Administration recommends that the Board of Education authorize The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, to make payments, subject to funding, as follows:

To:

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Pennsylvania State Police

IDEMIA

Purpose: To support attainment of mandated clearances for new hires for school-based support positions

Start Date:  7/1/2020

End Date:  6/30/2021

Payments not to exceed:$121,700

Location(s):

Administrative Offices

Description: The District hires an average of 2,000 part- and full-time employees each year, who are paid less than $40,000 per year to support the academic and operational needs of schools.  These positions, like all District positions, require pre-employment state and federal mandated clearances, that cost $59.60.  To attract more candidates to consider these positions and ensure that these positions are staffed as quickly as possible, the District requests authorization to pay state-mandated vendors for the cost of clearances for each of these candidates.  During the previous three school years in which the District covered the costs of two of the three required clearances, the time it took for a candidate to complete processing was reduced greatly compared to prior years, and has bolstered the District's ability to fill these positions. The Office of Talent along with the Office of Management and Budget worked with vendors to improve the payment process of clearances that would include the cost of FBI fingerprinting for a nominal increase. Over the past two years the District saw a 50% improvement in employee processing completion and currently stands around 70%.

Anchor Goal(s) Supported: Anchor Goal 3 - 100% of positions are filled by great principals, teachers and employees 

Related resolution(s)/approval(s): 

May 30, 2019; No. 17

Funding Source: 

FY21 Operating