A South Butler County School Board member is advocating for a daily pay rate increase for substitute teachers in the upcoming school year.

George Zacherl asked that the daily substitute rate be raised from the current $95 per day to $125 per day.

For several years has experienced problems attracting enough substitutes each day, and Zacherl suggested trying a pay increase to alleviate the problem.

“This was the rate we established two years ago,” Zacherl said of the $95 rate.

He said the pay rate amounts to $11 or $12 per hour for the college-educated substitute teachers, which he said is the starting pay rate at local department stores.

With the lag in learning, he said, that experts are predicting among students because of the coronavirus pandemic, the district will need readily available substitutes, Zacherl said.

“If we keep (the pay rate) the same, we're going to have the same results,” Zacherl said.

He also questioned how much time the principals spend each day moving teachers around and calling the district's substitutes provider to get enough teachers in the schools.

Greg Mandalas, principal at the primary school, confirmed he spends considerable time each school day arranging for teachers in each classroom.

Donna Eakin, board president, said the rate was in line with other districts last year, but Zacherl said he doesn't care about the subtitute rates in other districts.

“Sometimes you've got to be the first one out of the gate,” he said.

Zacherl added that the district never spends the amount budgeted for substitutes each year.

Superintendent David Foley said he will bring all the information and financials regarding substitute teachers to next Wednesday's meeting, so the board can make an informed decision on the proposed pay rate.