To stagger the licensure renewals, the legislature changed the renewal date from Aug. 31 to the last day of the teacher's birth month. The licensure bureau of the DE will now provide districts with a list of teachers and their renewal dates quarterly. The BOEE had conducted a series of public meetings requesting public comment on the rules. A number of comments against the rules were received from teachers. Also received were comments in support of the rules from districts and administrators.
Districts have few options to alleviate the substitute shortage.
There was one change during this year's legislative session that might assist some districts in finding substitutes. A retired teacher may now substitute teach before the four-month waiting period elapses. The Mt. Vernon Community School District and the Mt. Vernon Education Association submitted the issues of wages, insurance and evaluation to Arbitrator Paul Lansing. The ability to pay was not at issue in the arbitration. The parties differed on how the money available for increases should be apportioned.