Are there enough substitute teachers?

“As stated in the Sun-Sentinel article on Sept. 22 regarding Broward schools reopening,

32% of 5,000 teachers stated that they would take a leave of absence rather than return to the classroom. If that rate remains the same when all responses are in, then roughly

4,800 out of 15,000 teachers would not return. What is the plan to replace up to one-third of the teaching staff? Do they plan to hire 4,800 teachers, or do they plan to fill in with

4,800 substitute teachers?”— Susan Lanteigne, Plantation “What will be the situation for substitutes when Broward schools open? They aren’t trained in the online program, so will they be needed at all? Will they be used just as monitors if teachers call in sick?” — Karen Zaslow, Boca Raton

A large chunk of Broward teachers— about a third— said in a survey lastweek they would not return to classrooms, and the school district is figuring out now if they have enough educators for buildings to reopen nextweek.

Enrollment has fallen, so fewer teachers will be needed. The decline is about 7,600 students, or

3.5%, from last year. Most of the students— about 5,100— are in elementary schools, representing a 5.5% drop.

The district says there are enough subs, although they are always hiring more. There are

3,595, compared with 3,356 at this time last year, the district told me.

The district says its staff will train subs in online learning, but it’s unlikely a sub will have the high level of expertise needed to operate the classroom cameras that educators will be using to

teach students who are learning at home and in the classroom at the same time, a tremendous feat in itself.

It’s likely Broward’s first few days will be similar to the experience in Palm Beach County, which opened school buildings Sept. 21. So many teachers called in sick that many schools had to send nonteaching staff to supervise classrooms or ask teachers to monitor two classrooms. Some students had towait in overflowrooms until their next class started, the Palm Beach Post reported.

If youwant to become a substitute, our schools always need you. Broward pays $11.27 an hour. In Palm Beach County, subs get

$13.39 an hour if they have bachelor’s degrees and

$11.59 for associate degrees. Go towww.browardschools.com orwww.palmbeachschools.org. teachers toldmy colleague Scott Travis that theywere given rosters with just one or two students in some of their classes.

Palm Beach County had a higher turnout for in-person classes, 36%, and also hasn’t had much need for overflow rooms, which could be the cafeteria, media center or an empty classroom. Still, even when there is lowturnout, social distancing is not assured. A picture of students jamming the breezeway between classes at Boca Raton High Schoolwent viral last month; schools are nowmaking sure to stagger when they empty out their classes.

What about canceled SAT and ACTtests?

“Nova High School canceled allACTs and SATs in September and never notified the College Board to alert students. There are no more Broward schools even left nowto sign upmy daughter andwe are scheduled to drive over two hours away. For future tests going forward, are they planning on ever administering tests again to allowthis year’s seniors any opportunities to take them? Most schools are not test blind and after all ofmy daughter’s hard work her whole school career thismay be the thing that prevents her fromgetting in where she deserves.”— Tracy Internoscia, Davie

I’ve been hearing a lot about the frequent cancellation of SAT and ACT exams, sometimes with very little notice. Parents are driving all over the state to find alternative testing sites so their kids can take the exams in time for their college applications. It’s become quite a challenge as most sites are limiting howmany kids they’ll take to ensure social distancing, while some private schools that had served as regional testing centers have gone so far as to only allowtheir own students to take the exams.

High school students hoping for Bright Futures scholarships, which pay up to 100% of tuition at state universities, also must take the SAT or ACT. The state has extended the deadline for submitting test scores from June 30 to Dec. 1 because of the deluge of test site closings.

Here’s what Broward schools told me when I asked about the constant cancellations at its testing centers:

“Broward County Public Schools understands the importance of providing opportunities for students to participate in SAT and ACT testing as part of our focus on college readiness. Schools suspended SAT and ACT national date (weekend) testing due to the

COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in September, schools were approved to restart national date testing for SAT and ACT. When testing is offered, all testing sites will adhere toCDC health and safety guidelines for

COVID-19 (College Board SAT COVID guidelines, ACT COVID guidelines). Parents and the community can check test center availability on the College Board/ SATwebsite and ACTwebsite.”

Iwent to the College Boardwebsite and it looks like the cancellations are continuing. Most Broward testing sites thatwere scheduled to offer the Oct. 3 exam are closed with a “makeup to be determined,” and itwasn’t clear which ones remain open. What a mess.

High school seniors have already started applying to colleges. According to FairTest: TheNational Center for Fair and Open Testing, two-thirds of American colleges and universities are no longer requiring the SAT or ACT for admission; Florida’s state universities are not among them.

There are letter-writing and petition campaigns to try to get the Florida Board of Governors towaive this requirement. It definitely would be reasonable for the state to offer a dispensation this year, given the exceptional circumstances of this pandemic.