March 19 2024- School districts, including those in Northeast Ohio, are grappling with a shortage of substitute teachers, prompting them to implement new strategies to address the issue. Substitute teachers are essential for filling in when regular staff members are unavailable, but districts like Westlake City School District are struggling to find an adequate number of substitutes. Superintendent Scott Goggin acknowledges the challenges, citing an 85% fill rate, which still leaves a significant gap that requires other teachers to step in. To mitigate the shortage, the district is adjusting teacher training days, creating building substitute positions, and offering commitments to substitutes for consistent work. Additionally, external services like Rachel Wixey & Associates are being utilized, although they too are facing challenges due to the depletion of substitute pools caused by the pandemic.
