The Lower Merion School District is relying on substitute teachers to fill any vacancies as it prepares to bring some of its students back to classrooms on September 29, write Melanie Burney and Kristen A. Graham for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Montgomery County district currently has two full-time substitutes assigned to each of its ten schools.

“These `building subs’ are our first people we go to when teachers call out,” said spokesperson Amy Buckman. “Naturally, we think there is going to be an increased need.”

Lower Merion is just one of many school districts in the region that are turning to substitute teachers to fill in for teachers who become ill, have to quarantine, take leaves of absence, or opt to work remotely due to COVID-19 concerns.

This has created an unprecedented demand for substitute teachers and competing offers from parents and districts that are reaching as high as $2,000 a week to substitute-teach.

“I get calls every day to come back,” said retired teacher Janice Richardson of North Wales.

Read more about the Lower Merion School District at The Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.

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