District 220 Superintendent Robert Hunt
Barrington Community Unit District 220 is raising pay for substitute teachers to help ensure there are enough educators for each classroom.
“The most pressing concern is staffing and our ability to staff and keep our teachers healthy … so we can be able to open school every single day,” Superintendent Robert Hunt said during this week’s District 220 school board meeting.
Hunt asked for a temporary rate increase from $110 per day to $135.
“If we look at how we compare to other districts, I would say we’re on the low side of that range paying $110. It goes as high as $175,” he said. Hunt said the recommendation is prompted by a large number of teachers being out due to COVID-19 following winter break. “We had a significant number of absences coming into the week,” he said.
To keep the students in school, Hunt said the district has “instituted as many creative options as possible,” including splitting up classes and allowing teachers who are at home but not symptomatic to teach virtually. The increase in substitute pay is “one more tool to help us staff and keep students in school,” he said.
Hunt said his recommendation is for a temporary increase to help get through the latest surge.
“We would obviously come back to the board and have any conversations about anything more long-term,” he said.
The increase will be covered by federal pandemic relief funding.
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