Chartiers Valley increases substitute rates in effort to draw more interest

In the hope of filling more positions, Chartiers Valley School District increased its pay rates for substitutes.

School directors set the increased rates during their March 26 meeting.

“The pay is going to help,” said Pat Connolly, Chartiers Valley’s director of finance and operation. “Every school district in Allegheny County is looking for more subs, so we thought by increasing the pay, it would be more attractive to come to our school district.”

Substitute teachers will now make $150 a day, compared to the previous rate of $125. The district set the $125 rate during the 2022-23 school year. Prior to that, the rate was $110 per day, Connolly said.

“Moving it from $110 to $125 didn’t really make that much of an impact,” Connolly said. “We believe $150 will make an impact.”

Chartiers Valley set the new rates by surveying neighboring districts’ pay rates, Connolly said.

Substitute nurses also will make $150 a day, a $25 increase from the previous rate. The district is offering retired district teachers $175 a day as substitutes, Connolly said.

Other hourly rates include: $15 for substitute food service workers, $18 for substitute custodians, $23 for substitute CDL bus drivers, $15 for substitute non-CDL bus drivers, $15 for substitute bus aides, $16 for substitute clerical and $15 for substitute paraprofessionals.

On April 2, Chartiers Valley had 44 employee absences: 23 were filled, 17 were unfilled and 4 were not required to be filled, Connolly said. “Unfilled” means the absence wasn’t filled by a substitute and, instead, a teacher took over a class period during their own prep period. Positions such as administrators or counselors don’t require a substitute when there are absences, Connolly said.

On March 12, there were 46 employees off: 23 were filled, 15 were unfilled and eight had no substitute required, Connolly said.

When teachers fill in during an absence, they do receive a bonus; but it’s more cost-effective for the district, even with the new rates, to hire a full-day substitute.

District spokeswoman Angela Conigliaro encouraged people to become a substitute.

“You don’t have to have a teaching degree to sub, you just have to have a degree,” she said.

“I don’t think you can find a more flexible opportunity scheduling than substitute teaching.”