Substitute teachers help keep schools going. How are Greater Gardner schools finding them?

Back in the day, when there was a substitute teacher, class was going to be a different experience. Some were really great about keeping students focused and on task, but others would quickly lose control of the class and chaos would ensue.

But how do school districts find people willing to step in on a moment's notice to fill in for that teacher who is taking a sick day?

Local school districts report that hiring enough substitute teachers is frequently a challenging task.

"We are typically fighting with other local districts over the same applicants, so it's helpful when we get someone who knows our district and typically has kids in the district," Gardner Superintendent Mark Pellegrino said. "Parents are great substitutes to have, frankly, any substitutes would be helpful to us."

Staff from three area school districts said it's difficult to hire substitute teachers, and even if they are on the pool list through the year, the potential fill-in has to be available the moment they are needed, which is why having a large list is important.

How many substitutes do local school districts have

In Gardner, there are 30 potential substitute teachers in the pool, and at the Ashburnham-Westminster regional school district (AWRSD) there are between 50 to 60 substitutes in the pool. Stacey Christiano, AWRSD director of human resources, said although they have a large pool, they will continue to recruit more substitutes throughout the school year.

The number of subs needed on any given day varies, of course, although the need is highest in the winter, during flu season.

Hiring short-term subs is a challenge but finding long-term substitutes with certified teaching licenses or at least a bachelor's degree is increasingly more difficult. Long-term subs are used when a teacher needs to be on maternity, medical, or personal leave.

Pellegrino said that Gardner Public Schools are always looking for passionate and qualified substitutes because having a large pool is important in case of an emergency.

How much do subs get paid?

Substitute teachers are paid an hourly rate or a day-by-day rate that is different in each school district.

In Gardner, a day-to-day sub gets paid up to $110 per day. Candidates with a certified Massachusetts teaching license are paid $120 by the day.

For Ashburnham-Westminster, both day-to-day subs and long-term subs without a certified teaching license are paid $15 per hour, which is $90 for a six-hour day or $120 for an eight-hour day. Substitute teachers with a state-certified teaching license are paid $270 per day. The hours of the substitute teachers match the schedule of the absent teacher. They can work for a full school day, which averages from five to eight hours depending on the grade level, or the substitute can work a half school day which averages three to four hours.

In the Narragansett Regional School District, substitute teachers are paid hourly. Short-term subs are paid $17 an hour, which is $102 for a six-hour day and $136 for an eight-hour day. Long-term substitutes are required to have either a certified teaching license or a bachelor's degree and are paid $250 per school day.

What is required to be a substitute teacher in Massachusetts?

There are very few requirements to become a day-to-day substitute teacher, and most requirements differ between school districts. The common requirement is passing a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background check, filing fingerprints, and having the commitment to work with children of all ages.

In Gardner, candidates for the position need to pass a drug test as well, but the Ashburnham-Westminster district does not require a drug test.

The school districts in Greater Gardner don't require any higher education beyond a high school diploma to be a day-to-day substitute teacher.

Narragansett Superintendent Christopher Casavant said applicants for short-term sub positions don't need a bachelor's degree or a teaching license to be considered, but long-term substitutes need to have at least a bachelor's degree, so that students can still proceed with the teacher's lesson plan.

Casavant said substituting at a local school district is a great way to see if teaching is the right career path for you.

"Being a substitute teacher is hard. It's pretty daunting to walk in a random classroom but we try to prepare them with the lesson plan as much as possible," he said. "We use the most subs during flu season."

More: Winchendon school district issues Winchendon school committee in turmoil, superintendent's contract voided - what's happening?

Why happens if there's no sub?

Casavant, Pellegrino and Christiano all said they always have found someone, either a substitute teacher or a paraprofessional, to cover for a full-time teacher. Paraprofessionals or para educators have the training to be able to substitute for full-time teachers.

Casavant, Pellegrino and Christiano all said they have not seen the day when they could not get a substitute teacher to come in, but paraprofessionals or para educators are able to substitute if the school desperately needs the help.

Paraprofessionals are trained to assist and educate students with disabilities. Casavant said the problem with using a paraprofessional is it creates another absence in a different classroom.

"Paraprofessionals are employed to provide all kinds of services to disabled students and they can cover a classroom, of course," he said. "But then again, you've created another opening somewhere."

Christiano said Ashburnham-Westminster has been seeing an increase in applications from college students in the area looking for part-time employment.

"We're not completely struggling but we can always use more substitutes in the district," she said. "We are utilizing the local college students who come in to do internships in our district, and they become our day-to-day subs."

Representatives from Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School and Winchendon School District did not respond to requests for information and comment.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Gardner, Oakmont, Narragansett schools compete for substitute teachers