Substitute teachers at Mars Area will see daily pay raise
ADAMS TWP — At a meeting Tuesday night, the Mars Area School Board gave substitute teachers a raise in their daily rate of pay from $90 per day to $110 per day.
Substitute teachers have the chance to increase their daily rate to $120 per day after working 30 days in one school year. The policy is backdated to apply since Jan. 1, 2022, so days worked since then would count towards the 30-day total.
“The first 30 days are the $110 per day, and then after 30 days, and they don't have to be consecutive, that would go to $120,” business manager Debbie Brandstetter said. “Then, they would get paid the remainder of the year anytime they worked at the $120 (rate). That will reset at the beginning of each school year.”
Retired Mars Area School District teachers who work as substitutes will be paid the $120 daily rate right away.
“We're hopeful that, perhaps, if they see that, then maybe (retired Mars teachers) will reach out and offer to apply to be a substitute,” Brandstetter said.
The move comes at a time when multiple other local school districts, including Seneca Valley School District, have voiced concerns about a shortage of substitute teachers.
“Even before COVID, there was some difficulty getting substitutes, and then COVID kind of just magnified that,” Brandstetter said. “I think that we're kind of consistent with how things were last year. We're just down subs.”
At the meeting on Tuesday night, school board member Megan Lenz praised the decision.
“I'm glad to see that we are addressing this and becoming at least more in line with other school districts,” Lenz said. “It's still not as much money per hour, but I'm hopeful that this will increase our subbing.”
Mars Area School District contracts day-to-day substitute teachers through Delta T Group, and those interested in applying are asked to contact Suzanne Walsh at swalsh@deltatg.com.
