LARGO, Fla. — A substitute teacher shortage in Pinellas County is now being called an "emergency" by Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association President Nancy Velardi.

There are currently more than 180 teachers in Pinellas out of the classroom with COVID, or under quarantine.  

In addition, there are more than 100 teacher positions unfilled in the district.

The sub shortage comes even after Pinellas Schools had more than 1300 substitute teachers on file to start the school year.

"I just think that they are worried they are going to get it.   Because like I said my class, all of a sudden it became a hot spot.  I wouldn't want anyone in that room," said teacher Sandy Cochran.

Cochran is returning to her classroom today, but has been out for a week after testing positive for COVID-19.  She shared with us her opinion as to why substitute teachers are hesitant to fill positions.

Pinellas County Schools may call on non-teaching staff at its Largo administration building to start covering classrooms, although the district says it will not force any staff to take any jobs they aren't comfortable with.

The teachers union says non-teaching staff in schools like guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers and media center staff have already been filling vacancies in classrooms, which means the students they serve with their duties are not being met.

"They are all being called upon to substitute in the classroom, because they can't get subs.  That means their duties are going unmet.  They can't meet their own duties and take care of the kids because they are substitute teaching in classrooms under this emergency," union President Nancy Velardi said.

The teachers union is calling for more COVID-19 mitigation in Pinellas Schools to slow the spread.

It wants a mandatory mask policy in place, as well as more social distancing in classrooms.