School administrators in Delaware County and the Greater Philadelphia area are struggling to find ways of overcoming the worst shortage of substitute teachers the region has ever seen, writes Kathy Boccella for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Dan Nerelli, Assistant Superintendent for Personnel in the Upper Darby School District, has seen the ability to cover faculty absences drop from 95 percent just a few years ago, to just 60 percent this summer.

He and his fellow school administrators have been implementing emergency measures to overcome the issue, including combining multiple classes in the gym under one teacher or taking over classes themselves.

Another measure, announced by the Delaware County Intermediate Unit last month, is a new, two-day program to train “guest teachers” which would create some alternatives for sub-starved districts.

Marcia Reilly of Glenolden, who got her education degree in 2010, has been working as a sub, most recently in Upper Darby, after being unable to land a full-time teaching job. While she enjoys working in the classroom, she said that the pay, which usually comes out at $90 to $120 a day, is frustrating.

“I went through the same education as everybody else,” said Reilly. “You kind of expect to be paid what you’re worth.”

The lowest rate in Delaware County is paid by the Rose Tree Media School District at $75 per day. Tom Haupert, Human Resources Director, said the district was considering increasing it. But, “you get into a bidding war,” he said. “You raise it 10 bucks, the next district raises it 10 bucks more, and before you know it, you’re at $200 a day.”

Read more about the dearth of substitute teachers in the Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.