Alabama's substitute teacher shortage amplified during pandemic. What will districts do?

As more districts across Alabama open their doors to students after months of closures, a clear plan on how schools will deal with an already existing substitute teacher shortage amid the coronavirus pandemic is still unknown. 

While about 20 districts have chosen to teach solely remotely for at least the first nine weeks, the majority of Alabama systems have opened up classrooms for in-person instruction. Aside from the existing shortage of substitutes across most districts nationally, school leaders say they have seen an increase in retirements and a smaller number of substitutes who have agreed to return this year due to the pandemic. 

Additionally, if Alabama schools struggle with COVID-19 outbreaks like many other states have, teachers can be expected to take 10-day breaks to quarantine. 

"Pre-pandemic we were able to carry on and still have the school day even though we had just a slight shortage," Attalla City Schools Superintendent Jeff Colegrove said. "Now the pandemic has created an opportunity to think outside the box." 

One of three districts in Etowah County, serving about 1,500 students, opened Monday — with about 500 opting for in-person instruction.

More:Here's a list of Alabama districts teaching virtual only as teachers call on more to join

Last year, Colegrove said he had about 25-35 substitutes to call on when needed, with many working in the other two districts in the county as well. At a meeting held over the summer, about 20 showed up expressing their interest in returning for the school year. 

Additionally, about five teachers retired. 

With neighboring Gadsden City Schools not opening, Colegrove anticipates some subs to migrate to Attalla, but he said he still expects a shortage.

While only about a third of students are expected to be in the building, the district is giving families three weeks to make a permanent decision about whether to do virtual or in-person instruction. 

"Our biggest concern is in the event that remote learning doesn’t work for these parent and students and they choose to come back to traditional, then how will we socially distance?" Colegrove asked. 

Despite the complications and unknown scenarios that opening creates, he said, "We believe it is vital that we see our students before we have to go to a blended format," referring to if schools are ordered closed again. 

"We’re going to look at every avenue possible to educate our students. Those (students) that are traditional — we could look at moving into a larger space and combining. We don’t have a validated plan because things change every day for us. ... There's been some talk about teachers covering where there's a lack of subs during their planning time. Obviously we would have to pay them a supplement for that," he said. 

More:Autauga County schools hike substitute teachers, bus driver, nurses and custodian pay

Neighboring Etowah County Schools anticipates about 20% of its near 8,500 students to choose to learn virtually, with the rest back in class Monday also. 

Superintendent Alan Cosby said his district has also experienced a slight sub shortage in past years and have had teachers retire since the pandemic began. Combining classrooms isn't an option he'd consider, he said, considering the challenges to social distance that would present. 

"It’s probably going to be more of all-hands on deck," he said about what his district will do if needed subs aren't available. 

In central Alabama, Pike Road City School Superintendent Chuck Ledbetter said he doesn't anticipate his district will have troubles filling the need for subs when classes resume on Aug. 20. 

Unlike other districts, Ledbetter said Pike Road has been able to keep "a pretty steady supply," of subs in past years. 

This year, referring to neighboring Montgomery Public Schools district, "We may unintentionally reap the benefit as other systems around us are virtual only to start the school year," he said. "We think we’re going to be OK."

Autauga County's district, on the other side of MPS, though, is already preparing for a shortage. 

Last month, the district's board passed a one-year pay raise for substitute teachers in an effort to retain and attract more, increasing the rate from $65 a day to $100.

The district usually begins with about 80 substitute teachers on file. Last academic year the system relied on about 120 substitute teachers. This year, about five weeks ahead of school starting, there were just 32 names on that list, Superintendent Spence Agee said. 

"We can't operate the schools without subs," he said. "Every job in education is essential. ... It truly takes everyone working together to provide an education for our children."

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Krista Johnson at kjohnson3@gannett.com.