Wake Board of Education considering 26% to 30% increases in substitute teacher pay

Wake County Public School System substitute teachers would get a $24 to $27 per day pay increase under a plan up for a vote Tuesday night.

The Wake County Board of Education will consider raising substitute teacher pay from $80 per day to $104 per day for non-certified teacher substitutes and from $103 per day to $130 per day for certified teacher substitutes.

Substitute teachers have been left out so far among school district employees receiving bonuses, slight salary bumps and/or entry-level or early career wage increases.

At the same time, the district has had a lower fill rate for substitute teachers this year than in most years, while classroom vacancies remain a bigger challenge this year than normal. In September, the school district reported filling only about half of the absences and vacancies that required substitute teachers, leaving hundreds of unfilled positions each day.

Last week, district officials emailed employees informing them of plans for three $1,250 bonuses next year — across two different school years — and to rise substitute pay. The message didn’t include a proposed amount for substitute teachers, but dollar figures have been provided in an agenda for Tuesday’s board meeting.

The board will discuss the increase, as well as the bonuses, at its 2 p.m. finance committee and will vote on them at its 5:30 p.m. regular board meeting.