APPOINTMENT – SUPPORT STAFF

The probationary period for all new civil service employees will be for the maximum period established by the local Civil Service Commission.

The time, place, conditions of employment, and transfer of support staff will be vested in the Superintendent who will conduct such actions in compliance with all applicable contract provisions. The duties for each Civil Service employee will be clearly defined.

Paraprofessionals

In accordance with regulations of the Commissioner, the Board may employ paraprofessionals to assist in the daily operation of schools’ non-teaching duties.

The duties and responsibilities to be assumed by paraprofessionals will be outlined by the Superintendent.

Civil Service Law Section 63

SUPPLEMENTARY SCHOOL PERSONNEL

Teacher Aides

In accordance with the regulations of the Commissioner, the Board may employ teacher aides to assist in the daily operation of the school through non-teaching duties.

The duties and responsibilities to be assumed by teacher aides will be outlined by the Superintendent in accordance with Civil Service guidelines. Teacher aides will be responsible to the building principal or designee.

A teacher aide may be assigned to assist teachers in such non-teaching duties as:

a) Managing records, materials and equipment;
b) Attending to the physical needs of children; and
c) Supervising students and performing such other services as support teaching duties when such services are determined and supervised by a teacher.

Teaching Assistants

In accordance with the regulations of the Commissioner, the Board may employ teaching assistants to provide, under the general supervision of a licensed or certified teacher, direct instructional service to students.

Teaching assistants assist teachers by performing duties such as:

a) Working with individual students or groups of students on special instructional projects;
b) Providing the teacher with information about students that will assist the teacher in the development of appropriate learning aspects;
c) Assisting students in the use of available instructional resources and assisting in the development of instructional materials;
d) Utilizing their own special skills and abilities by assisting in instructional programs in such areas as foreign language, arts, crafts, music, and similar subjects; and
e) Assisting in related instructional work as required.

Teaching assistants who hold a pre-professional teaching assistant certificate will have the same scope of duties as enumerated above for other teaching assistants. Within that scope of duties, teaching assistants holding a pre-professional teaching assistant certificate may, at the discretion of the District, and while under the general supervision of a teacher, perform such duties as:

a) Working with small groups of students so that the teacher can work with a large group or individual students;
b) Helping a teacher to construct a lesson plan;
c) Presenting segments of lesson plans, as directed by the teacher;
d) Communicating with parents of students at a school site or as otherwise directed by a teacher; and
e) Helping a teacher to train other teaching assistants.

Licensure and certification requirements will be as mandated in accordance with Commissioner’s regulations.

8 New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) Section 80-5.6