Substitute Teacher Shortage Behind Pay Raise

​By Carol Britton Meyer

Following a particularly high number of absences among Hingham Public Schools teachers recently, the School Committee decided an increase in the daily pay rate for new and experienced substitute teachers was in order to hopefully attract more applicants due to the current shortage.

"We might have eight to 10 teachers out, with only two substitutes available," Interim Supt. of Schools Gary Maestas said. "Our rates of pay are not competitive with neighboring school districts, and we are in direct competition with them."

The committee decided to increase the rate of pay per day from $93 to $113 for new teachers and from $105 to $125 for experienced teachers, effective Jan. 3, 2022 through the end of the current school year.

In the meantime, the human resources director will check out other school districts to see how the Hingham Public Schools rates compare to theirs and report back to the School Committee, which will decide whether to recommend a further adjustment at a later time.

"We are in a crunch. We do need more people [to fill this role]," Chair Kerry Ni said.

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