Norway-Vulcan Area Schools. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)

NORWAY — When seeking board approval in October to hire a full-time substitute teacher, Norway-Vulcan Area Schools Superintendent Louis Steigerwald was cautious on whether it would help resolve what has become, at times, a critical staffing shortage.

Steigerwald said he was concerned no one would apply.

But doubt turned to good news, with the NVAS school board voting 6-0 on Wednesday to hire not one but two full-time substitutes for at least the remainder of the 2021-22 school year and possibly longer.

Steigerwald added his office received “a good half-dozen” applications for the substitute position.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” he said. “It’s just the job market right now. … You don’t know if you’ll even get applicants.”

With the better-than-expected number of applicants, Steigerwald recommended the board hire two full-time subs to ensure better coverage of district classrooms.

“It’s an ongoing, continuous problem,” Steigerwald said. “I don’t see it getting any better.”

Classes at Norway High School were canceled Oct. 11 due to a staffing shortage, including substitute teachers. Parents and students were notified of the closure via an email blast sent out that morning.

The two new positions will not be school district employees but rather hired and employed through EDUStaff, a third-party company that contracts with school districts to provide substitute teachers. That would provide an overall cost savings, with the district not having to fund retirement benefits.

The two full-time subs won’t be an issue financially, Steigerwald added, as the positions will be funded with federal ESSER money — designed to provide school districts with relief for COVID-related issues — rather than the district’s general fund.

Board member Brady Gustafson questioned whether the board should expand on the idea of increasing the pool of full-time subs, rather than depending on individuals who are on-call and not always able to come in when needed.

“Let’s see how this goes,” Steigerwald said.

The two full-time subs will receive $130 per day worked, which was $30 more than call-in subs received.

With most neighboring school districts also paying substitutes $100 per day, Gustafson said NVAS should raise its pay rate to help attract potential candidates.

“We should be higher than them,” he said. “Basically, raise the sub pay.”

His fellow board members agreed, voting 6-0 to increase the pay rate for subs to $110 for a full school day.