MVCSC Seeking Substitute Teachers
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Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC) leaders are asking the community for help — The school system is in need of substitute teachers. Keeping students learning in classrooms is a priority.
“Currently we’re offering on-site, in-person instruction Monday, Wednesday and Friday for our K through 8 students,” says Chris Smedley, assistant superintendent. “On Tuesdays and Thursdays we offer virtual learning. We’re offering the hybrid schedule Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at the high school, with Thursday being a virtual day for the students.”
With flu season in full swing and no end to COVID in the near future, MVCSC leaders are seeing an increasing number of teachers needing days off.
“For the most part, we were operating at full strength for most of the year up until around Thanksgiving time,” Smedley says. “That’s when we started to notice a strain in staffing because that’s when the number of COVID cases started to climb. Before that time, we were able to sustain those shortages or those absences with our support.”
Educators are having to take time off for various reasons, including but not limited to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Certainly we’re seeing the routine reasons why educators would have to miss school – things like having a sick child at home or having the flu,” Smedley says. “We’re also seeing teachers who may have been exposed to COVID, or a family member has been potentially exposed. Unfortunately, the pandemic itself has just added another significant layer of why team members need to be out.”
In order to help expedite the process, new substitute teachers are being offered incentives to apply. Applicants do have to meet certain requirements and go through the application process.
“The first thing a potential sub would need to do is schedule a meeting with Kelly Services,” Smedley says. “Kelly Services will walk them through how to obtain a substitute permit issued by the Indiana Department of Education and a background check.”
The health and safety of students and staff is MVCSC’s primary concern.
“It’s important from the standpoint of being able to continue to open our doors for operation,” Smedley says. “Virtual works, but obviously nothing is better than the in-person experience. It takes the substitute to help provide a safe learning environment. Truly our main goal is to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for all of our students.”
Potential substitutes must have a high school diploma and be over the age of 21 to work at the high school.
“Subs are paid $85 a day and offered monetary incentives,” Smedley says.
Potential subs will be treated as part of the MVCSC family.
“The other day I was speaking with other employees in the school system and almost all of them, unprompted, told me how much they loved working for our schools,” says Maria Bond, director of community relations. “Our students are pretty amazing, not only in who they are, but what they offer to our community as well.”
For more information including application and incentive details, visit mvcsc.k12.in.us/employment/6.
