EVANSTON, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- There’s a substitute-teacher shortage faced by many school districts, so one north suburban district plans to reach out to familiar faces to fill those spots.
At Evanston/Skokie District 65, Assistant Superintendent Andalib Khelgati said the substitute teacher shortage is so urgent that he, principals in the district, and others met last week in what he loosely calls a “SWAT” meeting. As a result, he announced to a school board committee, he plans to send letters to retired teachers asking if they’d consider returning as substitute teachers.
One board member asked him whether pay for substitutes is the reason it’s so tough to fill positions. Khelgati said it doesn’t seem to be that that’s the biggest issue.
"Places like Oakbrook are paying, from what I understand, $200 a day for their subs daily, but they are also facing a similar challenge," he said.
District 65 pays $138 a day for the first 15 days, and then bumps pay up to $200 a day.
Khelgati said he’s heard from substitute teachers that they do it to feel connected to a school and their community; although, one former sub told him that if there were more benefits attached to sub work, more people would be willing to do it.
"Subs really sub, because of the 'why.' They want to be connected to a school. They want to be connected to a community," Kehlgati said.
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