Frisco ISD is incentivizing substitutes in an effort to retain them and reduce the shortage in the district.

The board of trustees approved the new incentives for substitutes during the March 4 meeting.

Substitutes who work a full day on a Monday or Friday, the days that fewer substitutes work, will be paid $15 extra. Substitutes that work a half day on Mondays or Fridays will be paid $7.50. Another $100 incentive is offered for substitutes who work more than half of the days in a semimonthly pay period.

Substitutes in long-term or administrative positions are not eligible for the incentives.

These incentives are hoped to increase the number of substitutes that take jobs at FISD, said Pam Linton, FISD chief human resources officer. FISD is not alone in its struggle to retain and attract substitutes, she said.

"It is very difficult to get subs across the area," Linton said. "Especially when the economy seems to be strong; it's very difficult to find subs."

Other surrounding school districts, such as McKinney ISD and Allen ISD, have increased substitute pay in an effort to remain competitive.

FISD's incentives go into effect April 1 and will stay in place for the rest of the school year. FISD will see how successful the incentives are at the end of the school year and decide whether to continue with them, FISD Chief Financial Officer Kimberly Smith said. If the incentives are not successful, FISD may consider hiring an agency to help recruit more substitutes, she said.

The new incentives come months after the district increased substitute pay from $80 to $100 a day for those with college degrees and from $90 to $110 a day for those with teaching certificates. Pay for substitute aides also increased from $70 to $80 a day.