Anonymous wrote:Yes there’s a shortage, but the lunch/recess coverage is still bad even when you are fully staffed. There is no money for more than 2 staff members per 100 students or so.

How can this be? You need 1 teacher for 30/students in a classroom, right? So wouldnt you need at least 3-4 paras at lunch recess if 100 students?

Adults with a pulse and available during the day - please volunteer during your local Elementary school's lunch and recess. They need more adults to help!

Adults with a pulse and available during the day - please volunteer during your local Elementary school's lunch and recess. They need more adults to help!

Yes there’s a shortage, but the lunch/recess coverage is still bad even when you are fully staffed. There is no money for more than 2 staff members per 100 students or so.

Anonymous wrote:What is the minimum requirement to be a sub or a para? Can a grandparent/retired of a student at the school apply?

They sure can. Log onto the MCPS website for specifics. Better yet reach out to your nearby school principal.

For a substitute, you have to have a pulse, basically. Not much more than that, apart from an AA degree, I think. When I applied you had to have a Bachelor's degree, but they have since relaxed that rule.

What is the minimum requirement to be a sub or a para? Can a grandparent/retired of a student at the school apply?

And then throw in the sub shortages, again underpaid and underappreciated. It's an ugly situation. When you treat support staff, whether they are paras or substitutes, as something beneath your boot, well, then don't be surprised that they don't stick around for long.

The other issue is that paras are being pulled to cover other duties, often without training and over time burn out and cycle out. They are seen as disposable.

Why isnt there a mandate on adult-studnrt ratio during these times? You have to look hard to find an adult on the playground.

We have the same problem at my school. The pay is very low.

Lunch recess has always been this way. I encourage every parent who can cut out 30min during the day to volunteer for either lunch or recess. And if you have more time, volunteer for both. Eye opening.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, there is a huge shortage of paras. No one wants the jobs because they pay very poorly, many positions don't include benefits, and for those working with some special education students they also risk injury. Not pretty, but the truth.

I'm in high school - we only have paras for special ed, and I agree that being a para is difficult with some students.

Yes, there is a huge shortage of paras. No one wants the jobs because they pay very poorly, many positions don't include benefits, and for those working with some special education students they also risk injury. Not pretty, but the truth.

Is there a shortage of paras in MCPS? It seems like there is never enough at lunch and recess. ES PTA asks parents to volunteer during lunch recess. How about at the MS? Do Paras supervise lunch or do school administrators?