Owasso board approves temporary pay boost for Friday substitutes to improve fill rates

The Owasso Public Schools Board of Education on Nov. 10 approved a targeted, temporary increase to substitute teacher pay for Fridays to try to raise the district's lowest daily fill rates.

Treasurer Philip Storm told trustees the proposal would raise non‑certified substitute pay from $85 to $140 per day and certified substitute pay from $95 to $150 per day for the remainder of the 2025–26 school year. "So what we are proposing is kind of a targeted adjustment for Fridays," Storm said, adding the move aims to incent substitutes to take Friday assignments.

Storm offered an estimated fiscal impact: "If we were completely successful and we had a 100% fill rate on Fridays, that number goes up to about $110,000," he said, while current‑rate modeling indicated roughly $61,000 in additional cost.

Board members discussed legal and operational considerations, including whether the change could be withdrawn later. Storm said the salary‑decrease protections for full‑time certified staff do not apply to daily/hourly substitutes. After discussion and a motion to approve, trustees voted unanimously to adopt the temporary Friday pay increase.

The pay change will be in effect only for the remainder of the 2025–26 school year; the board and administration said they may reassess next year based on data and budget impact. Treasurer Storm said the district might consider a broader pay increase in a future year if targeted incentives do not resolve fill‑rate shortfalls.

Provenance: Topic introduced at SEG 953 and concluded at SEG 1056.

Speakers (first reference): Treasurer Philip Storm (SEG 895); Board members (roll‑call and comments across SEG 953–1056).