By Richard Sullins | richard@rantnc.com
The Lee County Board of Education on Tuesday adopted a plan put forth by Superintendent Dr. Andy Bryan to compensate teachers in middle and high schools for covering classes during their planning periods for colleagues who are out of work due to COVID.
“One of our core values has always been the ‘do whatever it takes to educate children’ attitude,” Bryan said. “That attitude has never been more obvious than during COVID. Covering someone else’s classes is a really heavy responsibility.”
The plan, which will continue through the end of the current school year, would pay those teachers at a rate equal to $25 per hour, the same rate paid to tutors. Bryan said because the length of classes varies, the amount of coverage needed can range from as few as 30 to as many as 90 minutes. The Classroom Coverage plan will be paid from federal funds coming from the Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Fund provided under the CARES Act that was passed during the Trump administration.
The vote to adopt the plan was unanimous.
Re: Lee County Board unanimous vote to adopt classroom compensation plan. It is wonderful to see the Lee County Board acting to help the most important segment of our society – teachers. Schools hold our precious children and teachers hold their minds. They are an essential part of our recovery as well, trying to normalize a horrendous year and a half, confusing to adults and moreso to children. Thank you, teachers! And thank you, Board of Education!
This was a good decision. it is debatable if teachers are the most important segment of our society. There is no doubt Teachers are underpaid and deserve better work conditions and should not have to provide their own supplies. having said that, this mindset that teachers are some sort of sacred cow, beyond reproach or question really needs to stop.
It is only for middle and high school teachers….. what about all the other teacher assistants subbing for classes that don’t have teachers? Bus drivers pulling 2 routes because there isn’t enough drivers?? Elementary staff have the same issues and we are pulled to do extra dirty coverages as well……Why are we not included?
Correction
**extra duty coverages as well**