Hollister
– In an effort to increase the number of available substitute
teachers, San Benito High School District has moved to give subs
their first pay increase in six years.
Hollister – In an effort to increase the number of available substitute teachers, San Benito High School District has moved to give subs their first pay increase in six years.
“We know we have to improve our pool of substitute teachers, so this is one way to go about that,” said SBHS Superintendent Stan Rose.
Typically, SBHS substitutes receive $120 a day for their services, but as of last week they receive $140. Retired teachers will now receive $160 a day, whereas they did not necessarily receive any bonus over other subs in the past. The raise will not affect subs at San Andreas Continuation School. Though San Andreas is a part of the district, the county is responsible for selecting and hiring any substitutes necessary.
“We really hope that more teachers who retire from San Benito will consider returning to substitute,” Rose said. “They’re familiar with the system, they’ve been in it, and it’s an easy way for them to make extra money in addition to their retirement, on their own terms. It’s just a very easy transition for everyone.”
A shortage of qualified substitutes has had negative effects on SBHS classrooms for some time, Rose said. Without enough substitutes to call on, teachers needed to give up their prep period to sub for their colleagues, or administrators need to put aside their duties to do so.
“They’re compensated, but often it’s not about the money; it’s that lost time that’s valuable,” Rose said.
According to a district report, SBHS paid for 100 substitute days over the course of September, not counting two long-term subs. Last year the cost of substitute services altogether was $179,000 plus an additional 11 percent in benefits. The district estimates substitute costs will run about $247,500 this year, which the report says is still within the district’s budget.
“When you have roughly 140 FTEs (full time equivalent teachers), you’re going to have a handful of them out on any given day,” Rose said. “And new laws require more professional development sorts of training for teachers, which requires them to be out of the classroom even more.”
The district hopes the raise will encourage qualified subs – who must hold a degree and pass a competency test as well as undergo basic sub training – to consider taking assignments with SBHS even if they haven’t been interested in the past.
“We could set a number for how many substitutes we’d like to attract, but right now we just need as many as we can get,” Rose said. “The more we have, the better off we are.”
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected].
