School district offering temporary jobs for parents affected by shutdown

MARIETTA, Ga. — Parents who aren't getting paychecks due to the government shutdown are getting help from one local school district.

Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach was in Cobb County, where Marietta City Schools sent out a letter to parents and staff Thursday offering temporary work to families affected by the shutdown.

"If you are a parent/guardian of a Marietta City Schools student and your family has been impacted by the partial federal government shutdown, we invite you to join our Blue Devil family…even if just for a short period of time," the email read.

Gehlbach talked to Dr. Grant Rivera, Superintendent of the district, who said that when parents feel the pain at home, kids can feel it at school.

"We stepped back for a minute and said, 'How can we be a small part of the solution and soften the impact just a bit?'"

Rivera said the district has vacancies they can fill with temporary workers, those now off the job.

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He sent the email out to all staff and parents letting them know of open positions like substitute teachers, bus monitors, cafeteria workers, parking lot attendants and more.

"We have opportunities and needs that can be filled by someone short term," Rivera said. "Why not bring that to the attention of our families impacted by this shutdown and let them help us as much as we help them?"

Rivera told Gehlbach he was taking to another dad at a football banquet earlier this week who is a federal worker who is now not getting paid. When Rivera through out the idea, without flinching, the father said he would take the job.

"I had several conversations with families that say we just want to work and we need food on the table," Rivera said.

Rivera said that almost immediately after he sent the email, responses started to come in. In less than 24 hours, people have already been applying.

Human Resources at district headquarters have fast-tracked the process and background checks needed to make the new hires. Substitute teachers could take longer to approve, but other hires could start almost immediately.

"The substitute teachers go through an independent agency," Rivera said. "We put them on notice, said be ready to move. If we get people that are interested, I don't want this to be a slow process."

Still, Rivera said some of the vacancies in his district will be filled as quickly as Monday.

Cox Media Group