The Allegan Area Educational Service Agency has decided to change its third party employment service for substitute teachers and other support personnel.

Professional Education Services Group (PESG) of Caledonia has as the employer of record for substitute needs throughout Allegan County for the past several years, but starting July 1, third party employment services will be handled by EDUStaff, LLC to provide contracted services for AAESA. The school districts affected will include Wayland Union, Hopkins, Allegan, Fennville, Otsego and Plainwell.

A communication sent to substitutes in the area indicated this will include all substitute teachers, paraprofessionals and other support staff.

“Several factors were considered in our decision to switch to EDUStaff, and we are confident in their ability to provide excellent customer service to both our districts and you, as their employee,” said AAESA Human Resources official Erika Kavanagh.

She went on to add, “This change does not affect your employment status or rate of pay and your fingerprint record should still be viable if already on file with us or one of our local districts.”

EDUStaff is located on Broadmoor Avenue on the southeast side of Grand Rapids.

Kavanagh added the caveat that those who have retired on or after July 1, 2010, with a MPSERS pension are affected by recent changes in legislation which prevent them from employment in core positions by a third party unless willing to forfeit benefits while employed. Therefore, those individuals should not apply to EDUStaff.