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Jordan board approves substitutes for counselors absent 10+ consecutive days; board weighs cost and training
Summary
The board authorized district administration to provide licensed substitute counselors for counselor absences of 10 or more consecutive days. The measure passed unanimously; administrators said the annual cost would likely range from about $50,000 to $100,000.
The Jordan School District board voted unanimously Oct. 14 to allow licensed substitute counselors when a school counselor is absent 10 or more consecutive days.
Superintendent Dr. Godfrey outlined the proposal to allow only licensed counselors — including retired counselors or credentialed substitutes — to fill extended absences. “This is something that is most likely not just two weeks. It's going to be six weeks or longer, and we'll make sure they're well prepared for that in all aspects of that confidentiality and everything else,” Dr. Godfrey said during the presentation.
Administrators framed the change as a response to recurring, extended counselor leaves: last year the district recorded 11 counselor absences that exceeded 10 days for reasons such as FMLA and parental leave. District staff told the board that counselor substitutes would be paid at standard substitute teacher rates and estimated the additional annual cost at between about $50,000 and $100,000 depending on need; looking back three years, administration said the district would have spent between $50,000 and $100,000 in years when it had provided such coverage.
Board members asked how substitutes would be recruited and whether they would be able to perform the full scope of counseling duties, including confidential student and family work. Administration replied substitutes would be licensed counselors — many retired or previously employed as counselors — and that counselor specialists assigned to district areas would provide targeted onboarding to ensure substitutes understand available programs, confidentiality protocols and school-specific procedures.
The motion to authorize the administration to provide licensed substitute counselors for absences of 10 or more consecutive days was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. The board did not identify a new ongoing funding source; staff said modest adjustments to the substitute budget would cover the change and that the district already spends about $5 million annually on teacher substitutes.
Board members asked staff to proceed with recruitment plans and to report back if ongoing costs or practical issues required further action.
