Board members voted to increase substitute pay after a personnel-staff presentation showing instability in the substitute pool and a rise in teachers filling in for colleagues.

Why it matters: more competitive pay is intended to increase the number of qualified substitutes available, reduce the frequency that teachers give up prep or lunch to cover classes, and improve instructional continuity.

Personnel staff (presenter) reviewed recent absence and substitute-fill data. They reported overall district absence declined from the 2023-24 to the 2024-25 school year, but the rate of internal fills (teachers covering one another) increased and the substitute pool showed more variation month to month. The district currently pays $125 per day for most short-term subs, with higher rates after long-term thresholds; proposed changes set a new base of $135/day, a raise to $155/day after 30 days, and additional step increases for longer assignments. The presentation used 2023-24 figures to estimate fiscal impact and projected an annual cost increase of roughly $50,000 based on that earlier-year usage.

The personnel presenter also proposed applying the district's 4% salary increase to the hourly rate for teachers who are mandated or volunteer to cover colleague classes; the board implemented a 4% bump to that hourly fill rate (from $22.92 to $23.84 under the proposal).

A board member asked whether the cost fits the budget; staff confirmed finance review and said the increase was budgeted within current projections. A motion to adopt the recommended pay changes passed by voice vote.

The board asked staff to advertise for new substitutes under the improved rates.

Less-critical details: the district discussed longer-term options such as contracting a substitute-service agency, but staff recommended starting with the pay-rate change and evaluating a contracted solution next year if needed.