Aldebol discusses scheduling inflexibility and workforce strain from vacancies
Aldebol explains that paras have little schedule flexibility and that vacant positions and attrition force remaining paras to do the work of multiple people, leaving no coverage for unforeseen absences. She states retention and recruitment are insufficient to meet student needs.
Furthermore, compounding the issue of low pay, paraprofessionals have very little flexibility in their schedules.
Moreover, full-time paraprofessionals are entitled to a maximum of only 10 days of paid leave during the school year to address health or personal issues.
A substitute paraprofessionals do not receive benefits at all.
But due to the level of vacant positions and attrition, the remaining paraprofessionals must work doubly hard to fulfill the work of multiple people
and are left with little or no flexibility for coverage of students when someone takes an unforeseen absence.