Warwick Public Schools Human Resources Director Kim Ruggieri put it bluntly during Tuesday's School Committee meeting. If it wasn't for

substitute teachers, there wouldn't be in person learning during the recent Covid-19 surge.

"There were times when we had to close schools and classrooms but believe me when I tell you without the subs we have we would've had to close the District," said Ruggieri.

Like most employers, school districts are competing with each other when it comes to wages for workers. In this case it's substitute teachers.

It's why Ruggieri came up with a proposal to raise wages for substitute

teachers. The School Committee approved it unanimously on Tuesday night. It went into effect on Wednesday.

In a memo to the School Committee Ruggieri said that she has been

contacted by numerous substitutes asking that the rates be increased. One of the main reasons that they pointed to is that "Non-certified teacher subs (max of $125/day) are making comparable daily rates to Building Aides ($105/day). The responsibilities of the teacher subs are greater than those of the Building Aides."

Building Aides according to Riggieri are "non-instructional building support. They assist with arrival, dismissal, lunch & recess, copying, escorting students throughout the building, etc. Anything in the building that does not involve teaching."

The other reason that she heard is that "surrounding districts have increased their rates resulting in some of our subs looking to switch to the districts with the higher daily rates."

According to a document provided to the School Committee the highest paying districts are Providence and West Warwick at $200 a day. The lowest on the list was Barrington at $90 a day. The list came from Ruggieri surveying HR directors across the state.

Up until Wednesday the first 30 days substitute teachers were paid $80 per day if they have an associates degree, and $100 a day if they have a bachelors. They will now be paid $125, and $150 a day, pay increases of 55 and 50 percent respectively.

Now after 30 days instead of making $105, and $125 a day they will make

$150 and $175 a day.

Rhode Island Department of Education certified substitutes were paid $150 for the first 30 days they work and $175 after that. Now they will be paid $175 and $200 a day.

With the proposal approved the District will now also have a separate rate for Building Subs.

Building subs get increase, too

According to Ruggieri a Building Sub is a "teacher sub that is assigned to just one building. They cover absences and support the school in their initiatives."

"These subs are integral to the community aspect of the school and get to know the students and programs," said Ruggieri . "The students are familiar with them as part of then school staff so there is minimal disruption to

the day-to-day operations when a teacher is absent."

The rate for non RIDE certified Building Subs is $175 a day for the first 30 days and then $200 after. Certified ones will be paid $240 a day for the first 30 days and $265 a day after that.

As part of the proposal Ruggieri said that they had a fiscal impact report done by Finance Director Timothy McGrath.

"The fiscal impact of this proposal is difficult to predict as the number of substitutes utilized each day will vary," said Ruggieri. "We looked at the average number of subs over the last few months and projected out that it would cost an additional $100,000 - $150,000 if the usage were to remain stable. The hope is that with the Covid cases on the decline and the shortened quarantine requirements, as well as moving out of the cold and flu season, the sub usage will significantly decrease. This also does not take the contractual teacher formula into account which reimburses a small percentage back to the district."

It was pointed out by Ruggieri that the increases weren't budgeted. McGrath said that when they do their budget for next year they will need to factor in the new rates.

Ruggieri said that it was critical that they approve the increases.

"If we don't do this we are putting ourselves in jeopardy of not being able to open schools again if we have another surge," said Ruggieri.

Superintendent Lynn Dambruch also agreed that it was important to raise the wages.

"I see the struggles that we have to get substitutes to cover teachers," said Dambruch. "We have to be very competitive."

School Committee member Karen Bachus said, "I think this is very necessary because we need to not only bring in qualified good subs but we need to keep them. We need that consistency."

Vice Chair David Testa said he was in favor of it, noting that he actually thought the fiscal impact was going to be larger than it is projected. He said that the reality is that there is a market for substitute teachers.

"Either you're going to be competitive or not, if you're not then you're going to pay the price," said Testa.

School Committee member Nathan Cornell, a 2016 graduate of Toll Gate said that finding substitutes has always been difficult even before the pandemic. He recalled a time at Toll Gate when there was no substitute and no teacher for an entire class period.