Substitute Teacher Shortage Has Bay Area Districts Offering Better Pay

SAN RAMON (CBS/AP) -- A shortage of substitute teachers has several school districts east of San Francisco raising their pay or thinking about doing so.

The San Ramon Valley Unified School District raised its basic pay from $110 a day to $130. In Livermore, district officials raised the basic rate from $125 a day to $137.

Substitute teachers are in demand as more of them find steady employment in a healthy economy.

Elizabeth Graswich, a spokeswoman for San Ramon schools, said this year's teacher shortage is the worst she's seen.

She says there's a smaller pipeline of prospective teachers. Low starting pay, high living costs, school budget cuts and an overall improved economy may have prospective teachers looking at other occupations.

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