As a parent and a sub, I feel bad teachers have to find their own substitutes.

[Anonymous]

Is it unusual that teachers have to find subs when they or their kids are sick? How do other school districts handle this issue?

[Anonymous]

My school district (Baltimore City) doesn't require us to find our own subs. We request time off through an online portal and an admin okays it. They are responsible for getting a sub. I'd never work in a district that expects me to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it unusual that teachers have to find subs when they or their kids are sick? How do other school districts handle this issue?

Other school districts are struggling as well right now. However, many used to pay to have a sub in the building every day.

Our “call-in” system sucks.

[Anonymous]

Yep. This is why I come into work sick with fever, strep, colds, bronchitis, pneumonia and whatever strikes me at the time. I wear a mask and go to work. Isn't that what they told teachers to do during covid?

[Anonymous]

I work in DCPS and used to work in Anne Arundel and both had in the contract that teachers were not responsible for finding their own subs. At my DCPS, there are no subs so not sure what would happen if we did need to find our own!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work in DCPS and used to work in Anne Arundel and both had in the contract that teachers were not responsible for finding their own subs. At my DCPS, there are no subs so not sure what would happen if we did need to find our own!

Technically, if you are sick, MCPS can’t force you to come in if you don’t find a sub, but they will make you miserable when you return. I was hit by a car and out three days. The day I returned, I was assigned coverage.

[Anonymous]

My spouse works for DCPS and says there's a rush to substitute for people during free periods because they pay is decent for an hour of easy work.

I'm sure it's more difficult in elementary, but if you pay teachers to be subs, you will have many takers. What is crappy is forcing teachers to be subs without pay or warning. And forcing teachers to find their own substitutes is crappy too.

[Anonymous]

MCPS doesn’t require you to find your own sub. I never do - take pot luck. The automated system notifies subs of open positions. The only time I’ve have to have a sub pre-arranged was taking personal leave on a “blackout date” (before a long weekend/break) when there are often too many open jobs.

[Anonymous]

Mcps teacher here. There is an online sub system. You login, create an absence and hope a sub takes the job. Other than writing sub plans, your job is done. I’ve been in the county for a long time and have never been denied leave or been harassed for not having a sub. Is this really a problem countywide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mcps teacher here. There is an online sub system. You login, create an absence and hope a sub takes the job. Other than writing sub plans, your job is done. I’ve been in the county for a long time and have never been denied leave or been harassed for not having a sub. Is this really a problem countywide?

No but there are a few posters who are obsessed with finding fault. It seems like they resent tpublic schools and are intent on spreading their unhappiness

[Anonymous]

At our MS, we're strongly discouraged from taking personal leave w/o a sub lined up. If we're sick, we're expected to stay home regardless of whether a sub picks up the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mcps teacher here. There is an online sub system. You login, create an absence and hope a sub takes the job. Other than writing sub plans, your job is done. I’ve been in the county for a long time and have never been denied leave or been harassed for not having a sub. Is this really a problem countywide?

And many schools also have a preferred sub list. We would rather contact someone we know is good rather than leave it to chance. If no one on our preferred sub list can do it, we post on the sub system. If that's not picked up, our administrators and secretaries contact systemwide subs or ask people to cover in-house.

It's upsetting that they're such a sub shortage. With all the people on this forum, maybe some of you can sign up to sub!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep. This is why I come into work sick with fever, strep, colds, bronchitis, pneumonia and whatever strikes me at the time. I wear a mask and go to work. Isn't that what they told teachers to do during covid?

You mean during the 2 years you worked from home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mcps teacher here. There is an online sub system. You login, create an absence and hope a sub takes the job. Other than writing sub plans, your job is done. I’ve been in the county for a long time and have never been denied leave or been harassed for not having a sub. Is this really a problem countywide?

And many schools also have a preferred sub list. We would rather contact someone we know is good rather than leave it to chance. If no one on our preferred sub list can do it, we post on the sub system. If that's not picked up, our administrators and secretaries contact systemwide subs or ask people to cover in-house.

It's upsetting that they're such a sub shortage. With all the people on this forum, maybe some of you can sign up to sub!

They need to pay more than $20/hour. It’s insulting and not a living wage. It’s gross that people think this is okay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mcps teacher here. There is an online sub system. You login, create an absence and hope a sub takes the job. Other than writing sub plans, your job is done. I’ve been in the county for a long time and have never been denied leave or been harassed for not having a sub. Is this really a problem countywide?

Do you have to write a sub plan every time you’re out? What happens if you have an emergency or are too sick and don’t have time to write a plan?