Substitute teacher asks high school district for higher daily payment

With the lowest substitute teacher rate in the area, the Freehold Regional High School District is now forced to pay a whopping 64 percent more than it should. Over a school year, this added cost could be as much as $900,000.

As a taxpayer who had two children graduate from Marl-boro High School, I certainly resent this needless expense. As a substitute teacher, I am even more disturbed.

Regular substitute teachers now are paid $70 a day. This rate is rumored to increase to $72 a day in September. At the same time, the district now pays $115.50 a day to an outside agency to fill our daily needs.

Let me say the following loud and clear:

• A $2 a day increase is an insult to those of us who have been subbing on a regular basis over time.

• With one of the highest tax rates in the country, parents should expect the best from teachers — even subs.

• A good sub should be more than just a "body." A good sub provides consistency in the classroom, establishes rapport with the students and helps with the work and concerns.

• Transient subs, through an outside agency, mean the district has no control over who comes into our schools.

• Transient subs mean there is no educational consistency or student recognition. This means more chaos in the classrooms.

• An active 80-person sub list to cover 800 teachers in six schools is insufficient to meet daily needs and provide qualified help.

• If subs were paid more, there would be more people with high credentials interested in working in our schools on a regular basis.

Therefore, on behalf of all of the regular subs, I ask the Board of Education to consider raising the sub payment to $105 a day, which is $15 an hour and still $10 less than the agency charges.

Raising direct-hire sub pay will also return hiring control to the district, assure high quality teachers and provide consistency in relationships and discipline in the classroom.

Carol Abaya

Marlboro