Certified substitutes will receive an additional $15 per day, while pay for degreed substitutes will increase $10 per day, and paraprofessionals would receive an extra $5 per day under proposals approved by the board of trustees on Aug. 10.
The increases allow the district to remain competitive compared to neighboring districts, Superintendent Kevin Rogers told the board.
These costs will be part of the upcoming year's budget, according to Rogers.
Certified substitutes received $95 per day in the 2019-20 school year, and degreed substitutes received $90 for a full day, according to LISD's online listing.
It's not clear whether the increased pay will ensure the district has enough substitutes in the coming year, Rogers said. The district typically has anywhere from 700-800 substitutes available, but so far roughly 460 have signed up for the fall. The shortage is likely due to the coronavirus pandemic, he said.
"We once again are entering into some uncharted territory," Rogers said. "We had a lot of subs that dropped out because they are afraid."
The district will continue discussions on increasing wages for full-term substitutes at campuses that have a lower number of substitute options at a later board meeting, based on responses from board members.
The board will also discuss a possible shift to a contracted substitute service, which could save the district in regard to insurance and other benefits for substitutes, according to administrative staff.
