Sterling Schools CUSD #5                                                                                                  5.280

 

 

Educational Support Personnel

 

Duties and Qualifications

 

All support staff: (1) must meet qualifications specified in job descriptions, (2) must be able to perform the essential tasks listed and/or assigned, and (3) are subject to Board policies as they may be changed from time-to-time at the Board's sole discretion.

 

Paraprofessionals and Teacher Aides

“Paraprofessionals” and “teacher aides” are noncertificated personnel with instructional duties; the terms are synonymous.  Service as a paraprofessional or teacher aide requires a “statement of approval” issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).  A paraprofessional or teacher aide first employed in a program for students with disabilities on or before June 30, 2005, shall be subject to this requirement as of July 1, 2007.

A paraprofessional or teacher aide in a targeted assistance program that is paid with federal funds under Title 1 Part A, or in school-wide program that is supported with such funds, shall hold a “statement of approval” issued by the ISBE for this purpose.

Individuals with only non-instructional duties (e.g., providing technical support for computers, providing personal care services, or performing clerical duties) are not paraprofessionals or teacher aides and requirements in this section do not apply.  In addition, individuals who are completing their clinical experiences and/or student teaching do not need to comply with this section, provided they otherwise qualify for instructional duties under ISBE rules.

 

Noncertificated Personnel Working with Students Performing Non-Instructional Duties

Non-certificated personnel, including paraprofessionals and teacher aides, may be used:

      1.   For supervising study halls, long distance teaching reception areas used incident to instructional programs transmitted by electronic media (e.g., computers, video, and audio), detention and discipline areas, and school-sponsored extracurricular activities;

      2.   As supervisors, chaperones, or sponsors for non-academic school activities; or

      3.   For non-teaching duties not requiring instructional judgment or student evaluation.

Nothing in this policy prevents a noncertificated person from serving as a guest lecturer or resource person under a certificated teacher's direction and with the administration's approval.

 

Coaches and Athletic Trainers

 

Athletic coaches shall have the qualifications required by any association in which the School District maintains a membership.  Regardless of whether the athletic activity is regulated by an association, all coaches must have completed a course on coaching principles and sport first aid.   The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that all coaches have completed appropriate training programs.  Anyone performing athletic training services shall be licensed under the Illinois Athletic Trainers Practice Act, be an athletic trainer aide performing care activities under the on-site supervision of a licensed athletic trainer, or otherwise be qualified to perform athletic trainer activities under state law.

 

Bus Drivers

 

All school bus drivers must have a valid school bus driver permit. New bus drivers and bus drivers who are returning from a lapse in their employment are subject to the requirements contained in Board policy 5.30, Hiring Process and Criteria and Board policy 5.285, Drug and Alcohol Testing for School Bus and Commercial Vehicle Drivers.

 

LEGAL REF.:        No Child Left Behind Legislation of 2001, U.S.C. §6319(c).

                              34 C.F.R. §§ 200.58 and 200.59

                              105 ILCS 5/10-22.34, 5/10-22.34a, and 5/10-22.34b.

625 ILCS 5/6-104 and 5/6-106.1.

23 Ill. Admin. Code §§25.510, 25.520

 

CROSS REF.:      4.110, 4.170, 5.30, 5.35, 5.285, 6.250

 

Adopted:          May 23, 1996

 

Revised:          May 22, 2002

 

Revised:          October 23, 2002

           

Revised:          October 22, 2003

 

Revised:          December 15, 2004

 

Revised:          June 28, 2006