Q: Do you find interims for positions other than community college CEO's.

We help colleges find interim administrators for any position. We have placed interim administrators in instruction, student services, business services, information technology, learning resources, nursing, financial aid, facilities, community education, and more. Our roster has 300 retired administrators on it. If we are not able to locate someone from our consultants, we will use our contacts to search out other candidates.

Q: Can we hire a person as a consultant instead of as an interim employee?

A consultant has to meet the legal requirements of an independent contractor. Among other things, that means that the consultant must be able to determine his or her own time schedule and cannot supervise employees or sign papers on behalf of the college. Another possible problem with hiring a retired person as a consultant is that STRS will count the person's earnings as income that counts toward the person's STRS limitation if the position is one which has been held by a credentialed person in the past or requires a credential.

There are situations where a college may hire a person as a consultant. These situations are usually specified projects that fall within the independent contracting requirements. PPL has placed consultants to write manuals, to conduct management studies, and to handle event management.

Q: We have a limited budget and are concerned about paying a fee for your services. How can we afford to pay PPL a fee?

We try to help colleges save money while getting people who can perform effectively for them. One way that a college saves is by hiring an interim administrator who does not require fringe benefits. The PPL fee is much smaller than the cost that is budgeted for fringe benefits for the position.

Another way that a college may save additional money is to contract with the interim administrator on a shorter work week. It is often possible for our experienced people to handle full time jobs on a reduced work week schedule for a limited period of time.

Q: We want to hire a person for an extended period of time, but we understand that retired administrators have earnings limitations which won't allow them to work beyond a specified amount. Is there a way around this?

There are currently three situations regarding the earnings limitations for retired administrators.

First, an STRS retiree can earn up to $29,700 for 2008-2009.

Second, a district may apply to STRS for an emergency vacancy exemption which allows an STRS retiree to earn up to half of the salary of the full-time position in addition to the $29,700 limitation.

Third, an STRS retiree who has not worked in a credible position for any 12 consecutive month period since retirement has no earnings limitation.

PPL will work with the district and with the STRS retiree to determine which situation best works for the district and the retiree.

Q: How do we go about getting approval for an emergency vacancy?

STRS must approve the exemption. The employer must submit Exemption Certification (SR 0165 - Rev. 01/99) Parts I and II. See STRS Directive 99-01 for requirements and instructions for completing the forms. The forms and directives are available from STRS.

The initial request must be clearly stated and, ideally, spell out he specific plans for a search, the time frame in which it will occur, past history with respect to similar searches, the chance of having to re-advertise and any other extenuating circumstances. Greater detail will make approval of the next request more likely, should that be necessary. Institutions cannot request an extension, but a request can be made for another exemption for the same position. That request must also include a sound rationale for the exemption.

Q: Are there any requirements for recruitment for interim positions?

In response to PPL concerns about special recruitment and selection procedures for interim positions, the Board of Governors adopted an amendment to Section 53201 of Title 5 to make it easier to employ interim administrators. In December of 2003, the following provision was added: "for the purposes of this section, a new opening is not created when: ...an individual not currently employed by the district, who is specially trained, experienced, and competent to serve as an administrator, and who satisfies the minimum qualifications applicable to the position, is engaged to serve as an administrator through a professional services contract. No appointment or series of appointments pursuant to this provision may exceed a period of one year." Special recruitment is not necessary when you work with PPL in hiring an interim administrator.