College Station ISD is considering requiring administrators to take substitute teacher assignments after a review by the board of trustees during the Sept. 15 workshop meeting.
The overview
The board said the inspiration comes from El Paso ISD, which will use administrative employees for subbing as a cost-cutting measure, according to El Paso Matters. As previously reported by Community Impact, CSISD is operating with an $8.3 million budget shortfall for the 2026-27 school year and is also seeing overall enrollment decline.
El Paso’s plan includes up to eight days per year that salaried administrators would have to cover. The plan could save the district up to $255,000 a year and help with El Paso ISD’s budgetary shortfall.
Trustee Chris Field, a former substitute teacher, said the cost-cutting measures would be helpful for the district’s shortfall, but administrators connecting with students would be just as important.
“We would be able to see how the decisions we’re making in this boardroom are affecting the people in the classrooms,” Field said. “I would love to have a pilot program where we have a day in the fall and a day in the spring.”
Field also said the message could show teachers the board is backing them up in everyday situations.
“Most kids in the district don’t understand what the board does or what administrators do,” Field said. “I just want to remind the teachers that I see them and that I appreciate them.”
What the board is saying
Trustee Kimberly McAdams said the 80% substitute fill rate isn’t high enough for coverage around the district and said it would be an overall benefit.
“I do share your desire to sub and help out. I subbed during COVID to fill that need,” McAdams said. “I am interested in a way to facilitate that a little more to help out.”
Trustee Heather Simmen said she wanted to make clear that administration still goes into classrooms for observation, but she also expressed concern about the “big brother” aspect of administration being in the classroom as subs.
Trustee Kristin Wilson said she observes many different aspects of the district because she has children in CSISD, but the idea of subbing could bring the administration closer to the everyday operations.
“It would be nice if we could get a more boots-on-the-ground view of the classrooms and see decisions all the way up here going to the schools,” Wilson said.
Going forward
The board did not make any decisions on administrators having sub days, but said discussions will likely come up in future meetings. Kim Ege, board president, said the idea will need further refinement and more concrete information will be presented to the administration before it is voted on.
