Coronavirus Causing Substitute Teacher Shortage

Three school districts in North Alabama are trying to hire more substitute teachers to head off any shortage from the coronavirus

Office.

And s- chools across the country are facing a substitute teacher shortage because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Tonight -- 3 districts in north alabama are trying to hire more.

That's where we begin tonight.

Employees at huntsville city, madison city, and madison county schools say they have fewer substitute teachers than previous years.

Waay 31's casey albritton joins us live from huntsville city schools district office.

She learned how school leaders plan to hire more educators... casey?

Craig williams with huntsville city schools tells me the more substitute teachers, the better... so, the district is almost doubling pay for substitue teachers-- from 75 dollars a day to one hundred and 40... janice sullivan/ substitute teacher "a lot of subs that we have are older, like myself, and they are afraid to come in because of this."

Madison city schools substitute teacher, janice sullivan, says she's noticed a huge decrease in the number of substitute teachers available .

Janice sullivan/ substitute teacher "we don't have enough subs to come in because of the pandemic."

Now she's having to make some adjusments.

Janice sullivan/ substitute teacher "i give up my planning in case i have to be going into a class to cover in case a teacher is out or a sub can't make it in."

Lamarr stevens also works as a substitute teacher in madison city schools and says she's seen substitute teachers working more than ever to cover the shortage.

Lamarr stevens/ substitute teacher "they work four or five days out of the week and they are called."

Madison city schools spokesperson john peck says the district currently has about 200 substitute teachers but would like to be at 300.

Madison county schools spokersperson, tim hall, says the district has about 360 substitute teachers but would prefer 500.

Huntsville city schools spokesperson, craig williams says the district currently has 250 substitutes.

Craig williams/ huntsville city schools "you can always use more, especially during a pandemic.

We've seen instances where schools have staff in quarantine and when you have a lot of staff members in quarantine, it forces us to have to make adjustments.

That could mean re-implementing the staggered schedule or remote learning."

While huntsville city schools is doubling its pay for subs...madison city and madison county schools are not.

Janice sullivan/ substitute teacher "i don't think we get paid enough for the work we do."

Lamarr stevens/ substitute teacher "we are being exposed to a lot more, being asked a lot more, even with the disinfecting and all that kind of stuff."

But despite the pay, both stevens and sullivan say they aren't going to stop doing what they love.

Janice sullivan/ substitute teacher "if i can help one child, then it feels like i've done some good for them."

Madison county is placing large signs at local schools and along major highways, advertising the need for more substitutes.

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