Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for August 13, 2006 WHO YA GONNA CALL?

From the Southern Illinoisan...

Sub-par

by kristen cates/the southern

Many school districts in Southern Illinois find themselves competing with each other: not in athletics, scholar bowl or band, but for substitute teachers.

As the new school year approaches, many districts find themselves with a large number to call. Others have to hope that few of their teachers will call in sick.

The Murphysboro school board has approved an increase in its rate of pay for substitutes from $60 per day to $75 because it's experiencing a shortage. District business manager Jan Bush said substitutes were going to districts such as Carbondale and hoped the rate increase would give Murphysboro a leg up.

"I think there just isn't the same pool there once was," she said.

Even in Carterville, where enrollment is steadily increasing, they are coming up short on the sub list.

"Some of it is driving," said curriculum director Janice Brown. "We don't compare very favorably with pay."

In Carterville, subs earn $55 a day, but she said the district might look at increasing the rate. A substitute list is usually generated at the Franklin-Williamson Regional Office of Education, as with other regional education office, and there can be up to 85 names on the list. But Brown said that covers both counties and sometimes ties in with Carbondale.

"It is a competition, somewhat," she said.

One would think the more rural school districts would have trouble finding substitute teachers and paying them, but that's not necessarily the case.

"We don't have any major problems with substitute teachers," said Lynn Byrd, principal of Meridian elementary-junior high in Pulaski County. "We're holding our own."

That's probably because the district shells out $70 a day for subs. And because most of the subs are retired teachers, Byrd said the district adds on $9 because of the teacher retirement system.

But someday that well will dry, too.

"Sooner or later it's going to happen," he said.

Drawing on retired teachers seems to be the most popular choice of school districts. Even that, though, has its drawbacks.

"It's not hard to come up with a substitute, but three is a little difficult," said Brent Boren, principal at the Shawnee junior-senior high school in Union County. "Just because they are on the list doesn't mean they want to be at your school - I'm lucky I'll get one."

Janet Ulrich, superintendent of schools for Union, Johnson, Massac, Alexander and Pulaski counties, said getting a substitute is difficult enough on its own, but when it comes to calculus or special education classes, that group shrinks even more.

"We try to mesh as much as possible the credential of the sub with the program," she said.

But even with the best pay and the most qualified, retired teacher, Ulrich said the likely problem is the harsh reality substitutes have to face.

"I think we have different cultures entering into our school systems," she said.

She noted a meeting she attending recently that indicated even certified teachers are leaving the classroom after three years to pursue new - and better paying - careers with less stress.

"It's much more difficult," Ulrich said.