Barrington School District 220 hiking pay for substitutes as COVID-19 surge leads to teacher absences

Barrington School District 220 is raising pay for substitute teachers to help ensure there are enough educators for each classroom.

“The most pressing concern is staffing and our ability to staff and keep our teachers healthy ... so we can be able to open school every single day,” Superintendent Robert Hunt said during this week’s District 220 board meeting.

Hunt asked for a temporary rate increase from $110 a day to $135.

“If we look at how we compare to other districts, I would say we’re on the low side of that range paying $110,” he said. “It goes as high as $175.”

Hunt said the recommendation is prompted by a large number of teachers being out because of COVID-19 after the winter break.

“We had a significant number of absences coming into the week,” he said.

To keep the students in school, Hunt said, the district has “instituted as many creative options as possible,” including splitting up classes and allowing teachers who are at home but not symptomatic to teach virtually.

The increase in substitute pay is “one more tool to help us staff and keep students in school,” he said.

Hunt said his recommendation is for a temporary increase to help get through the latest surge.

“We would obviously come back to the board and have any conversations about anything more long term,” he said.

The increase will be covered by federal pandemic relief funding.

“The reality is if the primary goal is to stay in school, keeping available staff right now during this surge, I think, is critically important,” Hunt said.

The board agreed on the temporary pay increase.

“It’s certainly important to have enough substitute teachers,” board member Erin Chan Ding said. “That’s a way to make sure we have them.”

https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20220114/barrington-district-220-hiking-pay-for-substitutes-as-covid-surge-leads-to-teacher-absences