Teachers who substitute for other classes or take in extra students are getting a temporary raise.
The Columbia School Board approved a pay increase Thursday for teachers when they take on more work amid Columbia Public Schools’ shortage of substitute teachers, which has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The increase will be in place for 10 weeks, meaning they will earn the previous teacher substitute pay rate when students return from spring break.
Teachers can fill in for other classes during their scheduled planning time or at other times outside their regular hours. Compensation for middle and high school teachers doubled from $12 per hour to $24 per hour, according to board documents.
At the elementary level, classes without a substitute teacher are often divided among staffed classrooms in the building. Previously, elementary teachers who took more students into their classrooms were not given additional pay. Now, they will be compensated $24 per half day and $48 per full day.
Over the 10 weeks, this move is expected to cost the district roughly $381,500.
