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Alexander Local board approves $16 hourly rate for substitute paraprofessionals and food‑service workers
Summary
The Alexander Local Board of Education voted to raise substitute paraprofessionals and food‑service pay to $16 an hour after trustees heard extended discussion about chronic substitute shortages and the strain on staff. The increase is intended to improve recruitment and reduce administrators filling student‑support roles.
The Alexander Local Board of Education voted to raise the rate of pay for substitute paraprofessionals and food‑service staff to $16 an hour during its regular meeting.
The discussion centered on chronic shortages of substitutes and paraprofessionals. Mister Hampton (S2) said administrators are frequently filling paraprofessional roles and urged a pay increase to attract candidates, noting that current rates have not moved in years. “Wehave been so short that essentially we're paying our administrators right now to be paraprofessionals and work with kids that are in extreme need,” he said.
Board members said the shortage affects classroom stability and increases workload for remaining staff. The discussion covered application and approval steps through the Athens County ESC and outreach strategies such as social media recruitment. Mister Hampton said the district currently cites a $12 hourly rate for substitutes and described the increase as a competitive necessity.
The board adopted the pay increase by roll‑call vote. Trustees also approved related personnel motions later in the meeting that will allow newly approved substitutes and paraprofessionals to be assigned where needed.
Why this matters: Alexander Local is a primarily property‑tax‑funded district; trustees warned that broader state budget decisions and funding formulas have limited local flexibility. Board members said higher substitute pay is intended to reduce the frequency of administrators and other staff needing to cover for absent paraprofessionals, improving support for higher‑needs students.
Board next steps: The board approved the rate change in this meeting; implementation and any retroactive application were not specified in the record.
