Dighton-Rehoboth Deals With Sub Shortage

The Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District is planning to boost the pay for substitute teachers to deal with a severe shortage.

Superintendent Anthony Azar recalled a letter he sent out saying the district may have to close a building down, “not because of Covid-19 but because we don’t have the staffing to adequately maintain safety.”

“We have been working an incredible amount of time which is very much warranted to try to get qualified individuals in front of our (students) in every classroom,” Azar said Tuesday.

Paul Kitchen, the district business administrator, said non-certified substitutes were paid $80 a day. Certified substitutes were being paid $85 per day. Custodial staff are paid $12 per hour.

“I think we need to increase our sub pay regardless because Seekonk is higher than us,” Kitchen said. “Somerset-Berkley is higher than us. It’s a competition now.”

Kitchen proposed paying non-certified substitutes $95 and $120 per hour for certified substitutes. Custodians would be paid $14 an hour.

Kitchen said the new pay rates would remain in effect through December 31 because of federal funding provided to the district.