HCPS FL Logo Information and Technology
Action Item
DATE: Tuesday, May 3, 2011
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve Adjusted Professional Development Pay Schedule for Instructional and Instructional Support Employees Attending Training Effective June 15, 2011
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Hillsborough County Public Schools offers over 6000 professional development courses annually.  The Department of Professional Development has utilized funds provided in the Federal Economic Stimulus Package (ARRA) since June 1, 2009, to enhance the pay schedule for employees attending professional development activities.  ARRA resources will be expended June 30, 2011.  The Department of Professional Development must use several limited resources to compensate those who attend paid courses in the school district.  These resources include Title I, Title II, Part I, and grants.

The Curriculum and Instruction, Student Services and Federal Programs, and Information and Technology Divisions have collaborated to develop a new professional development pay schedule which will be used throughout the district to provide continuity.  In addition, the existing Professional Development System (PDS) for registration is receiving software enhancement that will provide the district the ability to determine a limit on the number of courses offering a stipend that can be secured by individuals at any one time.

The new stipend rate for instructional employees who take a paid training will be $15 per hour (currently $23.25 per hour).  Prior to the availability of ARRA funds, the stipend was $10.03 per hour.  The new stipend rate for instructional support personnel will be $9 per hour (currently $11 per hour).  Prior to the availability of ARRA funds, employees earned their hourly rate of pay.

Two goals will be achieved by this proposal.  First, the lowered stipend rate would afford the district the opportunity to maximize funding by offering additional courses to participants.  In addition, this will open more seats to a wider variety of participants in courses that offer an hourly stipend by limiting the number of courses for which participants can reserve seats at any one time.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Recruit, develop, and retain a highly effective, diverse workforce
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
Funds for the new rate of pay for stipends will be provided through Title I, Title II, Part I, IDEA, and competitive grants.
EVALUATION
All professional development offerings include follow-up and evaluation.  Follow-up activities include coaching and mentoring, web-based resources, or participant product that indicates new skill implementation.  All trainings are evaluated on a regular basis.  Participants complete a survey in PDS at the conclusion of each course.  Each program supervisor receives feedback from the participants, instructors, and site administrators as to the effectiveness of the training.
SUBMITTED BY: 
Jamalya Jackson   David J. Steele, Ph.D.
Director, Professional Development
(813) 840-7021
  Chief Information and Technology Officer and Project Director, Empowering Effective Teachers Grant
(813) 272-4600
    A 4.03
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20110503_458 (Board Meeting) * Section A Item# 4.03