Substitute teachers in the Menlo Park City School District have received a 6% pay increase this school year. The district is also introducing a bonus for longer-term substitute teachers.

The district announced it has bumped pay for subs - who in Menlo Park are called guest teachers - from last school year's rate of $170 per day to $180 per day this year, according to a press release. It will also offer a new annual bonus of $2,500 for long-term guest teachers. Both changes were effective Nov. 1, and the district plans to keep them in place in future years.

"Having a cadre of well supported, flexible, and positive Guest Teachers and Guest Paraprofessionals ensures that the high quality teaching and learning throughout the district can continue without interruption when employees are out ill or attending essential professional development," the district said in its press release. "Gone are the days of low pay and tough conditions for 'substitute teachers.'"

Those who commit to subbing in the district for a minimum of 100 days in a given school year will receive the $2,500 bonus. Guest teachers can apply for the incentive through the human resources department.

Substitutes who teach special education and bilingual classrooms now earn $190 per day, while retired district teachers earn $195 per day for guest teaching. People teaching in these categories were previously paid the general rate, according to Parke Treadway, the district's public information officer.

Last year, officials in the K-8 district, which serves about 3,000 students, told The Almanac it had a shortage of guest teachers. Other nearby districts have also faced shortages of substitute teachers.

"The guest teacher pool is very fluid and we would welcome as many new guest teachers as we can recruit," Treadway said.

The district already offers a higher rate of $285 per day for guest teachers who sub long-term with the district. Long-term rates apply after 20 consecutive days in an assignment, and the higher rate is paid retroactively to the first day on an assignment.

No experience is needed to become a guest teacher.

For more information, contact hr@mpcsd.org or call 650-321-7140.

For more on the district's guest teacher pay rates, go here.

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