KELLY SUBS LOSES CONTRACT

The Santa Fe Public Schools board of education did not renew the contract of Kelly Services during its June 2005 meeting. The contract, which had been temporary, caused considerable public controversy during the nine weeks it was operative. The school district cited financial reasons for not renewing the contract.

An article in the Albuquerque Journal (June 9, 2005) reported that Kelly's best fill rate was on the last day of school when the firm filled 44 of 48 substitute positions. Its lowest fill rate was during the sixth week of the contract when 77 of the 141 openings for subs were filled.

NEA-Santa Fe released the results of its survey at the June 2005 board meeting that showed dissatisfaction among school employees with Kelly's performance. NEA-SF president Laura Hlinak noted that the same problems remain with attracting substitute teachers because of low wages. It is expacted that some substitutes, who would not work for Kelly because of privacy issues, will return to the district.