Another teacher/school ?

[lala]

Is it normal at your child's school or where you have taught for elementary aged classes to get divided up between other grade level classes when a sub is a no show? 

I do get that sometimes crap happens, but this happened in my oldest's class today and happened w/ another class in her grade last week. The class is then 33% larger and as you can imagine disrupted learning, more acting out, etc. They still do their "specials," with their regular class. 

I know it's not the teacher's fault - this was a planned absence. She prepped everything including the kids. I know she won't be happy just like she was displeased when it happened last week with another class. 

I'm mad. Talk me down...or up. 

[andrewsgal]

Yes. I mean what's the other option?

[lala]

I would think there is a list of subs? You call another one? I honestly don't know I guess. But it happened 2 weeks in a row.

[lala]

Adding, I really didn't know this was a thing I can't recall it ever happening as a kid but of course that was 25-30 years ago, so not exactly a reliable case study.

[mamaalysson]

It's not common, but in an emergency situation it happens. If a sub was a no show (good way to NEVER get called again, by the way) or a teacher had an emergency, the principal or a teacher with a student teacher or certified assistant or specials teacher could sometimes jump in while another sub was tracked down, but the sub list isn't infinite, and our district is always short. Shuffling kids to other classes sucks, but it's better than leaving them unattended. Take a deep breath, it's one day, it's Friday, and trust that it was no ones first choice for how to solve the problem, you know?

[quesyrah]

Yes. If they can't get a sub what else would they do?

[cna]

At our school they pull an associate from another class to cover until they find a replacement sub. DS1's teacher had to leave early today for a family emergency and they had the assistant principal subbing until they could find someone to take over.

[expectantsteelerfan]

I have no idea what my son's school does, but I'm a sub at the high school, and if a sub is a no-show, of course they try to get another one, but by the time someone is a no-show, most subs are either already working or not available. At the high school level, they can pull teachers who have free periods throughout the day to cover, but elementary obv. can't do that! I think the principal helps out if needed but I can imagine it would be hard for them to give up a whole day of their usual work to cover classes.

[jag01]

I honestly wouldn't give it a second thought. Sometimes things happen beyond anyones control, and you just have to roll with the punches.

[lala]

If it hadn't been back to back, I don't think I would have cared as much.

In the back of my mind is a discussion that occurred in our district over the last few years about the ridiculously low pay our subs receive, the poor company we contract with, etc, which means people don't want to sub with us. So maybe that colors it for me knowing it's a district sore spot.

[charlatti]

Feb 26, 2016 18:17:00 GMT -5 lala said:

If it hadn't been back to back, I don't think I would have cared as much.

In the back of my mind is a discussion that occurred in our district over the last few years about the ridiculously low pay our subs receive, the poor company we contract with, etc, which means people don't want to sub with us. So maybe that colors it for me knowing it's a district sore spot.

Our district is highly desirable and pays subs very well and this still happens from time to time. As someone said above, the sub list isn't infinite and it's harder to get someone late in the morning when you realize you have a no-show.

[quesyrah]

Feb 26, 2016 18:17:00 GMT -5 lala said:

If it hadn't been back to back, I don't think I would have cared as much.

In the back of my mind is a discussion that occurred in our district over the last few years about the ridiculously low pay our subs receive, the poor company we contract with, etc, which means people don't want to sub with us. So maybe that colors it for me knowing it's a district sore spot.

I can see where you're coming from in that instance.

Our district pays $130/day

[jnksmom]

Yes we have done that at my school. It is not ideal but sometimes it's the only option. Our office staff tries really hard to call and find a sub but the list is limited. For us, it only adds 2-3 kids because we have 8 classes per grade level.

[cna]

Feb 26, 2016 19:42:06 GMT -5 quesyrah said:

Feb 26, 2016 18:17:00 GMT -5 lala said:

If it hadn't been back to back, I don't think I would have cared as much.

In the back of my mind is a discussion that occurred in our district over the last few years about the ridiculously low pay our subs receive, the poor company we contract with, etc, which means people don't want to sub with us. So maybe that colors it for me knowing it's a district sore spot.

I can see where you're coming from in that instance.

Our district pays $130/day

Our district pays $90 per day. They just offered a contract to one of the subs because one of the 3rd grade teachers quit and they ran out of subs willing to go long term.

[lala]

I'd have to go dig it up but I'm positive it's under $100/day.

I guess I'm glad to know it's not uncommon but also still think it's sucky.

[fancynewbeesly]

It has happened to us. Our district pays low-70 dollars a day in central NJ. All the surrounding ones pay more. Subs are sore point in our district.

[rosesandpetals]

We had 2 teachers out today and no subs. Every room had an extra 3 - 5 kids. The kids in my room had a packet they were supposed to do and they came to specials with us.

This is why teachers drag themselves in when they're sick. It sucks but sometimes there is no money for subs, sometimes they can't find someone, sometimes it is just easier to absorb them in other classes. We have one class that is particularly tough and a sub with bad management skills. We can all absorb the students or we can end up with half of them suspended by the end of the day. Sometimes it is just better to have them with a teacher who can handle them.

Eta we only have 1 class per grade level so the kids I had were 5th or 6th graders. We pay subs 110/day which is more than most nearby districts. The other inner city schools are 90/day and the suburb I live in is 80/day.

[andrewsgal]

Feb 26, 2016 20:58:18 GMT -5 lala said:

I'd have to go dig it up but I'm positive it's under $100/day.

I guess I'm glad to know it's not uncommon but also still think it's sucky.

Our district pays the same. We need 600 subs in our system at one time for adequate coverage. It's just not always possible. I agree it sucks for both the kids and the teachers we hate it as much as you!

[auroraloo]

Subs get paid shit and in our state there is a huge sub shortage. There's not really just a list of people you can call and say "You need to work today" you put your job on the system, and the system calls and offers it to subs. But you can't force someone to work.

What would you rather they do? Raising sub pay is obviously an option, but honestly, our district has raised sub pay and it hasn't helped.

[jnksmom]

Our district pays $70/day for subs in most schools. If you sub at our inner city or the 2 schools that have an abundance of special needs students, you get paid $105/day. If you are a certified teacher, you get an additional $30/day. They just added that last year to try to encourage retired teachers to sub. We are not a high needs school so our subs make $70/day.

[lala]

Maybe we were just lucky it hasn't happened until now and like I said I've never experienced it any other time or heard of it - I really had no idea it was a common practice.

[cjcouple]

This actually just happened for the first time in over 5yrs a couple weeks ago. It didn't bother me. Subs are running low right now. I think it put an extra 4 kids per class. Which put most classrooms at 23-24 students .for the day. Not terrible.

[dizzycooks]

This is a common occurrence around here. We pay well for subs ($130 I believe), but as auroraloo explained, here it's a system we call into and that sets off an automated call to a list of people. Those people can accept the job or not. Just because a sub is in the districts system doesn't mean they accept jobs from all levels, schools or classrooms or even all days of the week. I know several subs who only accept jobs at one school or even only from one grade level. We have over 300 subs in our system, but as soon as we reach 90 absences in the district there is a significant likelihood there will not be enough subs to cover the absences. At that point teachers are "asked" to volunteer to cover classrooms during their preps. I teach middle school so no blending of classes outside of home room, but I've been asked to teach FACS, science and math...not exactly my specialties. Unlike a sub I have almost no time to review the plans the teacher left so it does make for a more difficult day, but it works out. Trust me when I say it's not what the teacher wants. It definitely influences my decision to call in on a sick day. We have been warned several days in advance that X day already has 100+ absences and mostly likely there will not be enough subs. How does that work when I wake up feeling awful or my kid is puking? We have an awful sub shortage and it's unfair to everyone.

[amynumbers]

Find out if the district has actual subs or contracted through a firm. Philly SD outsources subs to a group and has had horrible placement results this year, and they aren't the only SD in the area to do so.

[lala]

Feb 27, 2016 22:36:49 GMT -5 amynumbers said:

Find out if the district has actual subs or contracted through a firm. Philly SD outsources subs to a group and has had horrible placement results this year, and they aren't the only SD in the area to do so.

Yea, I'm going to ask, I'm pretty sure it's a contracted company. I think our elem might have 1 or 2 paras or aids that float as subs, but obviously that's not always enough. 

This was a huge topic a few years ago but I've heard zilch since - I'm hoping the new superintendent is addressing things like this but haven't gotten myself to a school board meeting this year. 

[lovebeingmama]

I don't know if our primary/intermediate schools do this. I worked in a middle school, and if we didn't have a sub, they would scramble to have other subs, teachers, or certified aides cover our different classes. It was a nightmare at times. And as someone said, it affected my decision to call in sick. One day I was feeling so sick and called for a sub, but went in to the school to make my plans (I lived down the street). The secretary was in a panic because they could not find a sub for my class. As a teacher, it's stressful knowing your class isn't adequately covered. I eventually made a deal with her that I would stay, teach my morning classes, go home to sleep during my lunch/plan time, and return to teach in the afternoon. I was so sick, but it was the only solution we could find. Honestly, the stress of sick days and sub plans and finding subs is one reason I'm glad I'm not teaching this year. My kids have been sick every week, it would have been terrible to deal with all of it.

[auroraloo]

Feb 27, 2016 22:20:39 GMT -5 dizzycooks said:

This is a common occurrence around here. We pay well for subs ($130 I believe), but as auroraloo explained, here it's a system we call into and that sets off an automated call to a list of people. Those people can accept the job or not. Just because a sub is in the districts system doesn't mean they accept jobs from all levels, schools or classrooms or even all days of the week. I know several subs who only accept jobs at one school or even only from one grade level. We have over 300 subs in our system, but as soon as we reach 90 absences in the district there is a significant likelihood there will not be enough subs to cover the absences. At that point teachers are "asked" to volunteer to cover classrooms during their preps. I teach middle school so no blending of classes outside of home room, but I've been asked to teach FACS, science and math...not exactly my specialties. Unlike a sub I have almost no time to review the plans the teacher left so it does make for a more difficult day, but it works out. Trust me when I say it's not what the teacher wants. It definitely influences my decision to call in on a sick day. We have been warned several days in advance that X day already has 100+ absences and mostly likely there will not be enough subs. How does that work when I wake up feeling awful or my kid is puking? We have an awful sub shortage and it's unfair to everyone.

This is the same in our district, and my district is much bigger than dizzy's. (5 high schools not including alternative, 6 middle schools, and no idea how many elementary), we hit 100+ absences almost every day just because we have so many teachers. 

I know subs that will only sub in ONE TEACHER's classroom for instance. But is still on the sub list, so it seems like we have plenty of subs. 

When I was SAH, I would sub in Dizzy's school but I would only sub for dizzy, one of her teammates and a friend upstairs, so 3 teachers. I knew I would have decent days in those classrooms. 

[lovebeingmama]

I took a two year leave of absence from my district. About halfway through, i inquired about occasional subbing. They told me I couldn't because it was a conflict of interest with me being on a leave. I mean, I sort of understood their point, but I was willing and able to sub. I also knew the school and teachers. And they said no, despite having major sub shortages on many days.

[andrewsgal]

Feb 28, 2016 9:06:09 GMT -5 auroraloo said:

Feb 27, 2016 22:20:39 GMT -5 dizzycooks said:

This is a common occurrence around here. We pay well for subs ($130 I believe), but as auroraloo explained, here it's a system we call into and that sets off an automated call to a list of people. Those people can accept the job or not. Just because a sub is in the districts system doesn't mean they accept jobs from all levels, schools or classrooms or even all days of the week. I know several subs who only accept jobs at one school or even only from one grade level. We have over 300 subs in our system, but as soon as we reach 90 absences in the district there is a significant likelihood there will not be enough subs to cover the absences. At that point teachers are "asked" to volunteer to cover classrooms during their preps. I teach middle school so no blending of classes outside of home room, but I've been asked to teach FACS, science and math...not exactly my specialties. Unlike a sub I have almost no time to review the plans the teacher left so it does make for a more difficult day, but it works out. Trust me when I say it's not what the teacher wants. It definitely influences my decision to call in on a sick day. We have been warned several days in advance that X day already has 100+ absences and mostly likely there will not be enough subs. How does that work when I wake up feeling awful or my kid is puking? We have an awful sub shortage and it's unfair to everyone.

This is the same in our district, and my district is much bigger than dizzy's. (5 high schools not including alternative, 6 middle schools, and no idea how many elementary), we hit 100+ absences almost every day just because we have so many teachers. 

I know subs that will only sub in ONE TEACHER's classroom for instance. But is still on the sub list, so it seems like we have plenty of subs. 

When I was SAH, I would sub in Dizzy's school but I would only sub for dizzy, one of her teammates and a friend upstairs, so 3 teachers. I knew I would have decent days in those classrooms. 

We have over 3000 teachers in our district and usually about 200 teachers out at a time. In addition to that most subs don't want to sub in my room. It's physically demanding and my kids can be violent.