‘Building subs’ proposed for classroom stability

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NAUGATUCK — Principals in local public schools want more stability with substitute teachers who visit their classrooms.

To help in that effort, the Board of Education wants to assign building substitutes to each of the borough’s 10 public schools.

The school board plans to vote on the proposal by Superintendent of Schools Sharon Locke at its meeting on Feb. 11. The plan calls for the school system to hire people at the beginning of each school year to serve as “building subs.” Those substitutes are required to have educational certifications for the grade levels they will teach. Thus, the pay for a sub will be increased from $70 a day to $100 a day for the building subs. All other subs will earn the current rate of $70.

Locke said the idea was the brainchild of Human Resource Manager John Lawlor. He said the building sub will be the first person called when a teacher needs a sub. Other districts use the same system, Lawlor said.

“When our teachers need to be out for whatever reason, this allows us to have someone who knows the teachers, the students, the system,” Locke said.

Additionally, it allows the schools to gauge whether someone would be a good fit for the school district if they were to apply for a full-time job, Locke said.

She and Lawlor said there is a shortage of substitutes in the state. However, there are certified teachers who are waiting for jobs and who would likely be interested in a “building sub” position, Locke said.

For example, she said, 300 people applied for the last available position.

“This is something that will be good for their resume and good for us,” she said.

The board meets at 7 p.m. Feb. 11 at the new administrative offices at Naugatuck High School.