Can you please give more information about permanent substitutes?

Question: To jump off the question about perm. subs...One of the subs is also listed in a position where they are paid $200/day. First, why do we need to pay this amount of money to someone who technically isn't a perm. employee of the district? This would equal to approx. $36000 if they worked 180 days in that position. Also what types of oversights are there to be sure that we are paying for the correct service? It would be very tempting to say that you worked in the $200/day capacity over the $90/day. Lastly, it concerns me that this substitute's mother is her direct supervisor. How does that work? This isn't a family owned business and it seems that many of the perm. subs that were hired this year have family connections or very close ties to the district in some other way (PTO etc.). The district hasn't had perm. subs. in several years so it looks like this might have been a way to hire family members and keep currently employees happy. How aware of these connections, and the individual’s qualifications, are the BOE members when they appoint or are they just blindly taking the word of the recommendation panel? If these are questions that have been brought up before I am sorry, but I am new to this question forum.

Answer: Permanent substitutes are a cost-effective way to provide a higher-quality education than random substitutes. Having permanent substitutes provides consistency. A permanent substitute is paid $90 per day, but this fee does not include benefits or contractual obligations. A regular substitute is paid $80 per day. If a permanent substitute worked 180 days per year at the rate of $90, this would be an extra $1,800 a year for each building to have consistency when the regular classroom teacher cannot be there.

All permanent substitutes are New York State certified teachers. Before being selected, they were all interviewed by a panel of teachers and administrators and the Board of Education sees all personell materials just like they would with any other hire.

Included in the appointment of permanent substitutes is the detail that the individual cannot be paid more than $90 per day for a maximum of 100 days. Should they work more than 100 days, their daily rate would increase to $200 per day for a maximum of 80 days.

There is oversight in the payroll process that monitors how much money the permanent substitutes are being paid. First, the building principal sees the timesheet and then sends it to the superintendent. The superintendent sends the information to the payroll clerk. All of the district’s payrolls are audited at various times during the year by both internal and independent auditors. Before the checks are paid, the superintendent has the final overview of the payroll. This process is set up to have checks and balances and ensure proper payments are made.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Are permanent substitutes necessary?

Question: It appears we have “Permanent Substitutes” at more than one school and why would it be decided that a permanent substitute should be paid $90.00 per day, which is significantly over the Substitute Service schedule of rates? This item over a 100 day period could add up to and over $1500 extra per year, paid to a substitute without justification in my opinion. In my opinion, Permanent or otherwise, all substitutes should be paid according to the day rate for the substituting position they are holding.

Answer: Permanent subs are certainly up for review in the coming budget and the sentiments you expressed will be a part of the conversation. The permanent subs we have been using are generally certified for the positions they will fill and are familiar to the students and staff; this provides smoother operations and confidence that the instruction of the students will be interrupted the least amount possible.
-answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education Vice President

Can staff development be conducted afterschool or on the weekend?

Question: I have a follow-up question and comment on the Plain Talk question, “What is the purpose of staff development days?” I have been also wondering about these staff development days… what is going on when over 10 substitutes are called into the TLC on one day, for some type of all-day meeting that the teachers are attending? This must cost an extra amount of money for a school day, plus with a substitute the kids are not most likely getting the “best” education day. Can some of these development classes and discussions be conducted after school hours or on weekend?


Answer: No, the times we can require staff to attend staff development and trainings is governed by their contracts, and they must be done during paid hours.

Students are benefitting from these trainings. For example, we recently held training for our new literacy program during the school day. All staff received training in the morning together. In the afternoon, the teachers returned to their classrooms and were observed by the consultants who lead the training.

Trainings in the TLC are typically done by grade level, so the greatest number of teachers that would be involved on a given day would be six.
-answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent

Solution needed for substitute bus drivers

Question: Now that this school year is at an end, I hope that next year something will be done about the bus runs. When there is a sub on a run and they are late, it makes it hard for people who have to work. Also, I have seen drivers reading the route list and driving at the same time -- this is not safe! Some subs have even driven past kids, and when you call the school, you're told that you're wrong!

Answer: You're right, we definitely need to come up with a solution for substitute bus drivers. There are a myriad of issues that arise from subs who are not familiar with specific bus runs and the children that ride them, including the information on their transportation request forms. As for what you've heard from the bus garage when you call, I have not witnessed that myself, but I have heard similar complaints when people have called me on bus issues.