For immediate release.
(Carson City, NV) - On Friday March 26, 2021, Governor Sisolak approved the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation's (DETR) proposed Emergency Regulation allowing for unemployment benefits to be available to education support professionals (ESPs) this summer. The emergency regulation now heads to the Legislative Commission for approval.
"The Nevada State Education Association, Education Support Employees Association, and Teamsters 14 would like to thank everyone involved for ensuring that education support professionals are eligible for unemployment benefits this summer," said Jan Giles, President of the Education Support Employees Association. "Last summer, we strongly supported Senate Bill 3 to give DETR the authority to propose emergency regulations and implement a fix for ESP's who are providing essential services to children in Nevada's public education system. Since that time, we have all continued to work with the Governor's office, DET, and legislators to find a solution for our ESPs."
"This emergency regulation will ease the minds of many ESPs who were facing limited job opportunities this summer," said Fred Horvath, Secretary/Treasurer of Teamsters Local 14. "When ESEA and Teamsters entered into this partnership, this is the exact type of result we sought when we teamed up. Our combined union power is helping to raise the standards for working families in Nevada."
Education Support Professionals (ESPs) provide vital services to the children in Nevada's public education system.
ESPs perform a wide range of essential work, including nutrition services, instructional assistance, school secretaries, maintenance and operations, student transportation, and more. Nine-month, ten-month, and eleven-month education employees are not currently eligible to receive unemployment benefits during the summer months if they have a reasonable assurance to return for the next school year.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, job opportunities last summer were severely limited, and many ESPs struggled to make ends meet. The likelihood of another summer with limited job opportunities due to the COVID-19 crisis would mean another summer with no income for thousands of Nevada educators. This emergency regulation will be a tremendous help to many Nevadans.
