The North Union Board of Education approved a tiered pay structure for substitute teachers recently to help fill openings within the district.
“One thing that we had talked about previously was doing a tier system for substitute teacher pay,” said CFO and Treasurer Scott Maruniak. “(Superintendent) Mr. (Richard) Baird and I have discussed it, and we think that it would be fair for us to do.”
In January, the board voted to increase the substitute teacher pay to $125 per day.
With the tier system, $125 would remain the base pay.
Maruniak explained that any substitute teacher who works 30 days within the district will receive an increase in pay to $150 per day. The 30 days do not have to be consecutive. The substitute teachers may serve in any classroom within the district for 30 days to receive the higher rate.
“We’re trying to give a little bit more incentive,” Maruniak said.
Long-term substitutes are individuals who serve more than 60 consecutive days in the same classroom.
“By Ohio Revised Code if a substitute teacher is in the same classroom for 60 consecutive days they are then classified as a ‘substitute teacher on scale,’” Maruniak explained in an email after the meeting. “This means that they become almost regular employees. They become eligible for insurance (at the same shared rate as a regular employee), they get a daily pay rate equal to a beginning teacher (BA, Step 0), they start to earn sick leave, etc.”
He said he will adjust the pay schedule.
“We will make it retroactive to the beginning of the year, so anybody that would have had 30 days in already” will receive the next tier rate, Maruniak said.
Board member Matt Staley asked Baird how substitute staffing has been.
“Last year, we were able to fill both classified and certified (positions). We were filling between eight and 15 positions a day,” Baird replied.
He said for awhile the district was filling only five to seven positions this year, but he has recently noticed an increase in substitutes.
He added that the district filled 11 positions on Monday.
“One other thing that has been instrumental, very helpful, is being able to certify people without their bachelor’s degree yet as substitute teachers,” Baird said. “We still have conversations, and we still make sure they’re qualified to do that.”
He said the district has “found good luck with” student teachers, field experience teachers and retirees from the education field.
“So, the sub situation isn’t better than it was last year, and a month ago or two weeks ago, I would have said it’s worse, but lately the trend is going back up as we have been working to get these subs in our district,” Baird said.
In other news, the board:
-Approved a contract for School Health Services between Elgin Local School District and North Union Local School District. Baird explained that Elgin’s school nurse is a licensed practical nurse (LPN), while North Union’s nurse is a registered nurse (RN). He said at times the LPN may need to consult with or seek supervision from the RN.
-Approved an agreement between North Union Local School District and Elliot P. Schlang DDS, Dental Outreach PLLC dba Ohio Dental Outreach.
-Approved a Fiscal Year 2023 Mid-Year Foundation Update with the North Central Ohio Educational Services Center (NCOESC) in the amount of $462,139.58.
-Recognized Clint Matlack, who takes photographs of North Union programs, with the #NUPride Award.
-Announced that Tri-Rivers Career Center will offer the following services to veterans of Marion County and surrounding communities on Thursday, Nov. 10: pet grooming, servicing lawn equipment, car washing, waxing and vacuuming, scalp treatments, hand treatments, facial waxing, computer safety inspections and portrait taking. For more information, call 740-389-8580.
-Received a presentation from North Union Elementary School fifth grade student council members, who shared some of the activities they plan including service projects, Spirit Night, Red Ribbon Week, a canned food drive and council elections.
-Accepted the resignation of Tonica Martino, Donna Temple, Elizabeth Doby, Larry Dunn, Kelly Edgar, Wendy Taylor and Justin Price. The board recognized retirees Pamela Ensign, a Title I teacher at North Union Elementary School, and Temple, an instructional aid at North Union Middle School, at the meeting on Monday.
-Approved one-year limited expiring pupil activity contracts for a list of middle school and high school coaches as well as an elementary robotics adviser for this school year, pending BCI/FBI clearance and pupil activity licensure
-Approved Carter Covert, Casey Daum, Paula Jordan, Joe Kyte, Kaitlyn O’Connors and Kristi Spencer as substitute teaching personnel to be called on an as-needed basis for the 2022-23 school year pending BCI/FBI clearance and certification when applicable. The board also approved Peyton Martino as an aide for the list of non-certified substitute personnel to be called on an as-needed basis for the 2022-23 school year pending BCI/FBI clearance and appropriate licensure.
-Approved a list of volunteers for classroom assistance, field trips and athletics for this school year.
-Agreed to employ Cameron Miller and Trisha Bell as elementary school aides for this school year.
-Approved one-year limited expiring supplemental contracts for Jennifer Davis and Kelly Edgar to serve as elementary school student council advisers for this school year.
The Business Advisory Council (BAC) is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, the Student Behavior Committee is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, and the Calendar Committee is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, all at the North Union District Offices, 12920 Route 739, Richwood.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at Tri-Rivers Career Center, 2222 Marion-Mount Gilead Road, Marion.