Broken Arrow school board votes to pay substitute teachers more
BY KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 05, 2013
2/05/13 at 6:29 AM
BROKEN ARROW - The school board voted unanimously Monday night to raise the daily pay rate for substitute teachers to make it more competitive with surrounding districts.
"I think we'll have a better fill rate now," Superintendent Jarod Mendenhall said after the vote.
The district launched a survey after school site administrators noted increasing difficulty filling teacher absences, said Ed Fager, the district's chief human resources officer.
The survey showed that Broken Arrow's rates were lower than other area districts' rates and that Broken Arrow's 2012-13 fill rates were trending lower than the previous year, he said.
The annual cost of increased pay rates is about $60,000, Fager said. The substitute rate for a certified teacher will increase by $10 per day to $70. Noncertified substitute pay will increase by $5 to $60. For special education, certified substitutes will see an increase of $10 to $80 per day, and noncertified substitutes will get an extra $5 per day for $70, he said.
Fager noted that many substitutes are registered with several districts and that, given a choice, they typically go with the district that pays the most.
New school names: In other business, the board approved names for several new schools that are under construction and opening next year. Each site had committees that recommended certain names.
The new elementary school and early childhood center at 61st Street and Lynn Lane Road will be Creekwood Elementary and Early Childhood Center, and the one at 111th Street and Aspen Avenue will be called Aspen Creek Elementary and Early Childhood Center. The remodeled Parklane Elementary School will be called Parklane Early Childhood Center, and the new middle school on Oneta Road likely will be voted on at the board's next meeting.
New Subway: The board also approved adding a new Subway sandwich shop at South Intermediate High School at a cost of $35,000 for equipment and minor renovations. The district opened a Subway at the high school this year, and it will cater to North Intermediate High School next year.
Original Print Headline: BA to pay substitute teachers more
Kim Archer 918-581-8315
kim.archer@tulsaworld.com
