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ConVal raises substitute pay to $140/day; long‑term subs to start at $250/day
Summary
The Contoocook Valley School District board approved raising daily substitute pay from $110 to $140 for teachers, paras and admin assistants and set a $250/day rate for long-term teacher subs for the first 10 days, citing recruitment struggles and potential budget offsets from reduced in-house coverage.
The Contoocook Valley School District board approved a proposal to increase substitute pay to address persistent shortages.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Amy Forrest told the board the district has had difficulty recruiting substitutes and that ConVal’s $110 daily rate lagged surrounding districts. The administration proposed increasing the full-day rate to $140 for teachers, paraprofessionals and administrative assistants, and setting a long-term teacher-substitute rate at $250 per day for the first 10 days, with a higher contract-based rate thereafter.
"We have been experiencing a significant issue getting subs," Dr. Forrest said, describing instances where principals and teachers have had to cover classes when substitutes were unavailable. Board discussion noted that paying for staff to cover planning periods can be as costly or costlier than hiring daily substitutes at the proposed rate.
Board members asked about the budget impact; administration said the district would monitor the substitute line and potential offsets (fewer paid-internal covers) and return data. The board voted to approve the new rates by voice vote.
Administration said retired teachers and experienced substitutes would be offered the higher long-term rate to encourage recruitment, and that spending will be evaluated against actual substitute usage.
