Marblehead Schools Bumps Pay Amid Substitute Teacher Crunch

MARBLEHEAD, MA — The Marblehead School Committee voted unanimously to back a 38 percent increase in the daily substitute teacher rate in hopes of being more attractive for subs amid a shortage of those willing to watch the classrooms this fall.

The school committee voted 5-0 to back Superintendent of Schools John Buckey's request to raise the daily rate from $80 to $110 per day.

"We can't get day subs," Buckey explained to the committee during Thursday night's meeting. "I'm thinking at $110, if you have the option of going next door to Swampscott that's $100, or to another neighboring district that might be $80 or $95, it might make us more attractive."

With Danvers among the districts also putting out the call for substitute teachers in recent weeks, it raises the prospect of a potential bidding war for substitutes among desperate North Shore districts.

"A survey went out to North Shore superintendents and we were among the lowest on the North Shore at $80 a day," Buckey said. "By moving to $110 it would probably make us the most competitive in the area."

School Committee member Sarah Fox said the pay problem goes beyond substitutes in the district.

"I'd also like us to take a look at the para(professional) rate, which is insanely low," she said. "At times, I think it's below minimum wage."

Buckey agreed that Marblehead paraprofessional rates are "woefully low" and should be a future school meeting agenda item. The committee next meets on Oct. 28.

School Committee Vice-Chair Meagan Taylor said a longer-term solution could be hiring more permanent substitutes in buildings instead of relying on a daily call out.

"At times we have no subs in the schools," Fox agreed, "and we have one teacher with one foot in each classroom.

"That's not serving our students."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)