Nov 22, 2002 By Josh Krysak 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – During a brief session Thursday, the Carmichaels Area School Board approved an updated substitute teacher list and discussed adding two long-term substitutes for the district. According to district Superintendent James Zalar, the district is having trouble filling daily absences with substitutes, a trend he sees throughout the state.

“On a weekly basis, we are short at least one substitute daily,” Zalar said. “They are just not available. It is a problem across the state.”

Zalar said that the district follows a standard procedure to fill teacher vacancies, one that usually exhausts all resources and results in no substitute or one that is overqualified or under-qualified. For example, if an elementary substitute is required, the district registrar first calls substitutes that are elementary certified, and if none are available, those elementary emergency certified are chosen, Zalar said. If neither group has a sub available, the registrar then calls secondary certified teachers, and so on.

According to Zalar, if a substitute is not available for a particular class, elementary classes are divided among other teachers, and the secondary classes are relegated to a learning center, where students participate in academic work, but not their actual class.

Board member Jerry Simkovic said the district should explore hiring two long-term substitutes to help fill the voids when necessary. The board will discuss the matter at its January meeting.

Additionally, the board took action to limit scheduled presentations to the board to 10 minutes, to try and prevent guest speakers from monopolizing the board’s time. Director J.L. Lechner proposed the motion, which passed by a 5-2 vote. Lechner said members of the public could say as much as they want, but speakers need limits, to curtail excess information. Lechner added that any additional information could be presented in handout form.

The school board also conducted the following business:

– Vice President Ken Ganocy commended the high school football team, the cheerleaders the band and the fans for an excellent season.

– Heard from student Kodi Yoders about beginning an elementary art program, headed by Yoders. The board said they would consider the matter at the January meeting.

– Authorized the business manager to solicit bids for the 2003-2004 school year.

– Announced that a public dance at the Carmichaels Veterans of Foreign Wars would be held Saturday, upon the solicitor’s approval, to benefit the senior class trip. The dance would be open to all ages from 7 to 10 p.m.

– Scheduled the reorganization meeting for Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m., just before the monthly meeting.