A request to increase the pay for a substitute elementary school teacher was up for approval at the Eastern Pulaski Community School Board meeting Monday night.
Superintendent Dan Foster explained that Joan Murray has taken on the roll of a teacher twice so far this year. At the beginning of the year she filled in for Dana Field for five weeks. Most recently, she started subbing for Brandi Kappes and will remain in that position until January.
The superintendent explained that Mrs. Murray has taken on quite a few more responsibilities that warrant additional compensation.
“She’s doing all the grades, she’s doing all the planning, she’s meeting with the first grade teachers.” Foster explained, “She’s basically the teacher, which is far and above what a normal substitute teacher would be doing.”
Foster recommended applying a 40 percent increase over a typical substitute pay rate to accommodate for her extra effort.
One board member suggested developing a policy to address situations like this in the future. Superintendent Foster said he agrees that a policy should be constructed to deal with substitute teachers who take on more responsibility and how they should be compensated for that work.
The school board members unanimously approved Superintendent Foster’s request to increase the substitute pay for Joan Murray after acknowledging that a policy will be created to deal with similar situations in the future.
