MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The pandemic has created a lot of unexpected problems, including the overwhelming need for substitute teachers in Manatee County.
What You Need To Know
- More than 330 teachers called out on a recent Friday, Manatee school officials say
- Teachers have been merging classes, and principals have gone back into the classroom
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It's an expense the district says it was not prepared for.
“We have always had a shortage (of substitutes), we never had enough, but not as dramatically as this year,” said Charlie Kennedy, Manatee County School Board Chair.
School officials say the month of May has the highest absent record for teachers.
Two weeks ago, more than 330 teachers called out on Friday, and the district was only able to backfill 199 of those staff members.
The school board allocated $750,000 to find — and fund — more substitute teachers, but workers say they are burned out.
“Everyone comes together because you got to do it, you have to do it for the kids, but it does have a strain,” said Wendy Mungillo, Manatee County School’s human resources director.
Mungillo said teachers have been merging classes, working through planning periods and principals have been teaching several classes, too.
“It’s just been all hands on deck,” she said. “But we have been pushing through so we can get to summer.”
The school board plans to meet in the summer to find ways on how to better staff their educators.