By Bonnie N. Davis

Richmond Public Schools has an emer- gency shortage of 119 teachers, and the administration hopes a Staunton consult- ing firm will help fill the void by placing temporary teachers in classrooms.

Although the school district continues to offer contracts to new hires daily, teachers continue to resign less than two weeks before the start of the new school year, Tamica Epps, executive director of human resources for RPS, told the Richmond School Board during its Aug. 15 meeting.

School officials said that using consulting firm PCG Educational Partnerships to hire and place teachers in Richmond schools will provide certified teachers for specific subjects, and is a better alternative than hiring a rotating cycle of substitute teachers.

T. David Myers, assistant superintendent for financial services, said PCG will receive $1,692 for each teacher who is placed.

Officials also said use of a consulting firm is an “emergency” option approved by the Virginia Department of Education’s procurement office.

The teachers, who likely will come from states other than Virginia, will be hired to teach September through December. They may become permanent if the school district offers them full-time employment, RPS officials said.

“This is an issue with many school divi- sions in the country,” RPS spokeswoman Kenita Bowers said in an email response to Free Press queries. “We are working diligently to recruit highly qualified teach- ers. Teachers will receive an average of $47 per hour and no benefits. The funds already are budgeted for teachers.”

PCG’s website states its goal is to increase school level capacity and pro- vide cost savings for school districts. The consulting firm also stated that it provides educators for all kindergarten through 12th-grade subjects, with a focus

on math, science and literacy. PCG con- ducts criminal background screenings for teachers it places.

“With more than 20 years of direct educational experience, we are experts at placing qualified, educational talent into today’s classroom,” PCG’s website states.

But some School Board members have doubts about the arrangement.

“We need to look at extending human resources,” said board member Shonda Harris-Muhammed, 6th District. “What will PCG do differently?”

Andrea Kane, associate superintendent for academic services, said an advantage of using PCG is that the person hired will stay with RPS until a permanent teacher is hired.

Board member Kimberly Gray, 2nd District, said using PCG should be an exception, noting “it should not be utilized as our own source to fill positions.”

The board approved using the company by a 5-2 vote.