CCISD board of trustees to meet, look at substitute pay rates

By BRITTANY FHOLER

Cove Leader-Press

The Copperas Cove Independent School District Board of Trustees will consider changes to the daily pay rate for substitute teachers and staff during their regular meeting Tuesday evening.

The school board meets at 6:30 p.m. in the Boardroom at the district training building at 408 S. Main St. Citizens are encouraged to speak during public comment/open forum for a total of five minutes per person, but comments must be made in person.

As far as pay rates for substitutes within CCISD go, the current rate for instructional aides is $58 per day, $75 for non-degreed teachers (full day), $85 for teachers with a bachelor’s degree (full day), $95 for SBEC certified teachers (full day), $100 for long-term degreed teachers (full day) and $150 per day for long-term SBEC certified teachers.

Two years ago, the school board had approved a substitute pay increase for the 2020-2021 school year two years ago, the first of its kind since at least 2012.

That increase bumped a non-degreed short-term substitute’s daily pay rate from $68 to $75 and a degreed short-term sub’s pay rate from $80 to $85, while a certified degreed short-term sub saw an increase from $85 to $95.

The increase also bumped the daily pay rate for long-term subs, from $85 to $100 for a degreed substitute, while the daily pay rate for a long-term certified degreed sub remained at $150.

The changes proposed by the district are reported to be “due to a shortage in substitutes across the state resulting in lack of coverage,” according to the meeting agenda.

The proposed changes are in the form of Plan A and Plan B.

Under Plan A, the daily pay rate for an instructional aide would remain at $58, while the pay rate for a substitute teacher with no degree would be $105 for a full day.

For a substitute teacher with a degree but no certification, the daily pay rate would be $115 per day for short-term substitutes and $135 for long-term subs. A certified and degreed teacher would see their daily pay rate increase to $130 for short-term subs and $180 for long-term subs.

Under Plan B, the daily pay rate for instructional aides would increase to $60.

The pay rate would remain the same as it currently is for certified and non-certified substitute teachers.

According to the district, long-term substitute pay begins on the 11^th day of consecutive subbing. Substitutes who work a half-day would receive half of the daily pay rate.

There is also a Substitute Incentive Plan. Substitutes working in Teaching positions would receive an incentive for the Fall and for the Spring semesters. For those who worked 90 to 100 percent of days, the incentive will be $1,500 per semester. For those who worked 80 to 89 percent, the incentive will be $1,250 per semester. The incentive drops to $1,000 per semester for those who worked 70 to 79 percent of days, and down to $750 for those who worked 60 to 69 percent of days.

Comparatively, Killeen ISD’s substitute pay starts at $80 per day for instructional aides, $75 per day for secretaries and $90 per day for classroom teachers.

For those substitutes with a four-year degree, that daily pay rate increases to $85 per day for aides and $100 per day for classroom teachers. State certified aides would have a daily pay rate of $90, while state certified classroom teachers would have a daily pay rate of $115 or $125 if long-term.

The board of trustees will also consider and take action on the R.I.S.E. Program, formerly known as Grow Your Own, which hire current paraprofessional or hourly staff to serve as Instructional Interns in the district while earning their college degree and teaching certification.

These staff would in turn commit to work for the district as teachers after completing their education, for a period of three to five years.

“Through previously approved partnerships with CTC, IWU, and TeachWorthy, CCISD will strengthen the teacher pipeline and invest in our own staff and students to grow highly qualified instructional staff for the students of CCISD,” reads the agenda attachment.

The board will also take action on several purchases exceeding $25,000 including the purchase of Education Galaxy educational software bundle for $37,187.50, Sharon Wells Math curriculum and training for grades 2-5 for $46,440, the purchase of SchoolMint Hero educational software for all secondary campuses for $46,302, networking and access control for Hettie Halstead Elementary for $101,503.51 and video surveillance upgrades with Enterprise Security Solutions Texas, Inc. for $144,609.95.

During the recognition portion, the board will recognize CCHS Class of 2022 graduate and HOSA member Chelsea Waddell for advancing to the International HOSA Conference as well as recognizing the CCISD Convocation T-Shirt design winners.

The board will also:

• Consider and take Action on EMT, Hospitality Management/Culinary Arts Dual Credit Agreements and an Adult Education Program (Literacy) MOU with Central Texas College for the 2022-2023 School Year.
• Consider and take action on the renewal of an agreement for the joint use of facilities with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas. The agreement allows the BGCTX to
• offer after-school care at Copperas Cove Junior High School and S.C. Lee Junior High School during the school year.
• Consider renewal of an agreement with the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) Killeen. This agreement allows the ASYMCA to offer before and after school care at all CCISD Elementary campuses.
• Consider renewal of an interlocal government agreement to share facilities with the city of Copperas Cove. This agreement permits both entities to share specified facilities. Changes to the agreement include adding the following: “City Park and South Park Pools year round for official swim team use and CCISD staff events” and “use of golf course and driving range during the summer for Junior Golf Camps sponsored by CCISD.”
• Consider renewal of an interlocal government agreement with the city of Copperas Cove to provide police services at Copperas Cove High School. The current agreement with the City of Copperas Cove is set to expire September 30, 2022. The new agreement renews for the 2022-2023 school year. The agreement provides for two full-time certified police officers for Copperas Cove High School, for a period of 52 weeks. The cost of services for this school year includes an increase of $1,523 from last year, due to increased costs for equipment and uniforms.
• Consider Adjunct Faculty Agreements for Texas A&M Agrilife County Extension Agents in Coryell, Bell and Lampasas Counties for the 2022-2023 School Year.
• Consider approval for a waiver request for Administrative Certificate for the Assistant Principal at Copperas Cove Junior High, Kelly Thompson. The TEA allows for local education agencies to request a one year waiver for school administrators who have passed the Principal as Instructional Leader Exam and are awaiting the submission and/or results of the Performance Assessment for School Leaders.
• Consider approval of an increase to the student travel meal allowance, increasing the amount of $8 to $9 per meal.
• Consider approval of the 2022-2023 Student Code of Conduct. No changes have been made, according to the meeting agenda.
• Consider the donation of a 1.98 acre tract of land that borders existing CCISD property on Big Divide Road, from Wesley and Mike Atkinson of Belpas, Inc.