A shortage of substitute teachers is affecting school districts in Carbon County and beyond.

Districts say that they have fewer substitutes to draw upon. At the same time, absenteeism has increased due to quarantines and teachers being cautious when experiencing symptoms.

“It’s a tall order to fill a day’s schedule,” said John Rushefski, superintendent of Jim Thorpe Area School District.

The pool of substitutes has been decreasing for several years. School officials say that there are simply fewer people choosing education as a field, so there are fewer certified teachers who don’t have full-time jobs.

The pandemic led to more teachers retiring and needing replacements, further reducing the number of qualified teachers available.

“People who were in the substitute pool before are now being hired as teachers, so you don’t have that depth,” said Raymond Kinder, Tamaqua Area School District Superintendent.

There are programs in place to encourage more substitutes. Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 conducts guest teacher courses where anyone with a four-year degree can be trained for a substitute position. Current education students who meet a minimum number of credits can also substitute, which helps districts around the holidays and the end of the school year.

Some districts are reluctant to raise pay because they expect other districts would do the same, leading the same problems to continue.

Whether districts hire their substitutes internally, or use an outside agency, they seem to experiencing the same issues. During a recent board meeting, Jim Thorpe School officials described a recent school day where the high school had nine staff absences, but could only find one substitute.

Penn Kidder Principal Holly Mordaunt also said she contacted 20 people to fill in for a teacher on maternity leave, and heard back from none.

Jim Thorpe’s pay rate for substitutes is $100 per day.

School board members were divided on whether the pay rate is what is making it difficult to attract substitutes.

“Once again it proves that very few people want to work these days,” Scott Pompa said.

Glenn Confer said it was absolutely about the money.

Board member Jerry Strubinger suggested that the district consider increasing the amount teachers can receive for unused sick days, to reduce the number of substitutes needed.

Panther Valley has an outside agency which manages its substitute teachers, and they are also unable to find available teachers.

“It is a severe problem. We have a severe shortage,” said David McAndrew, superintendent of Panther Valley School District

When there are more absences than substitutes, districts rely on full-time teachers to fill in. Panther Valley has had one teacher oversee two classes while they work on assignments in a lecture hall. Tamaqua will have full-time teachers give up their prep periods.

Sometimes districts call upon physical education teachers to cover regular classes, but it results in students missing out on their gym classes.

“They’re missing out on something else, it’s a trickle-down effect,” McAndrew said.