HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-05-1997 - 8e b
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Orange County
Board of Commissioners
Action Agenda Item Abstract
Meeting Date: May 5, 1997
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-e
Subject: Classification Plan Amendment and Increase in Hours - ESL Coordinator
Department: Personnel and Library Public Hearing: Yes No X
Budget Amendment
Needed: Yes No X
Attachment(s): Information Contact:
Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director
Extension 2550
Brenda Stephens, Library Director
Extension 2528
Telephone Number:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 227-2031
Purpose: To consider changing the ESL (English as a Second Language)
Coordinator position by:
• Amending the Orange County Classification and Pay Plan to
change the salary grade of ESL Coordinator from Salary
Grade 62 to Salary Grade 64.
• Increasing the hours of the ESL Coordinator position from 20
hours to 30 hours each week.
Background: In 1994 the Board of County Commissioners transferred the
permanent part time position of RSVP Literacy Coordinator from
the Department on Aging to the Orange County Library. Since
the position was transferred to the library, the duties have
focused on coordinating the English as a second language
(ESL) program for the County.
The ESL program provides volunteer tutors to instruct individuals
in English for whom English is not their first language. The
students in the ESL program range from preschoolers to adults.
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They may be referred by the Chapel Hill/Carrboro or Orange
County schools, community colleges, colleges, private
organizations or individuals. The ESL tutors are high school and
college students, retired seniors and other individuals from the
community who volunteer their time to serve as instructors
Over the past several years, the ESL program has grown
because of increasing demand for the service. Orange County's
employers and schools have more individuals whose native
language is not English. The program also has grown because
of community outreach activities which have communicated the
availability of the service.
The number of individuals requesting ESL tutorial services has
increased beyond the availability of volunteer instructors. The
increase in hours is requested to provide additional staff time to
recruit and orient instructors and to coordinate program
activities.
The chart below shows the increase in program activity since the
current ESL Coordinator began work in April 1995.
1995 1996 1997
April-Dec Jan-Dec Jan--April
ESL Students 97 280 325
ESL Volunteers 73 138 190
Hours tutoring 876 2,160 1,520
In an effort to accommodate the increase in students, the ESL
Coordinator also has assumed several additional duties and
responsibilities including:
• Expanding community outreach functions to include making
presentations to community groups to inform the public about
the ESL program and recruit volunteers.
• Expanding efforts to recruit bilingual volunteers to serve as
translators.
• Increasing the focus of the ESL Coordinator's time on
program administration and coordination rather than direct
service as a tutor or translator.
As a result of the growth and changes in the ESL Coordinator's
duties and responsibilities, the Orange County Library requested
that Personnel review the classification of the position.
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Personnel has completed this review. Based on the position's
duties and responsibilities in relation to other positions, it is
recommended that the class of ESL Coordinator be changed
from salary grade 62 to salary grade 64.
Funds to implement the change in salary grade and increase in
hours are available within the approved budget for 1996-97.
Recommendation: The Manager recommends the Board approve:
• Amending the Classification and Pay Plan by changing the
Salary Grade of ESL Coordinator from Salary Grade 62 to
Salary Grade 64.
• Increasing the hours of ESL Coordinator from 20 hours per
week to 30 hours per week.
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