By DAVID MAMARIL HOROWITZ
david.horowitz@bgdailynews.com

As schools across the commonwealth and nation struggle with teacher vacancies, Warren County Public Schools is capitalizing on a new Kentucky law lowering the requirement to teach as a substitute at WCPS schools.

WCPS can now approve emergency substitute teaching certificates lasting a year for people with a high school degree or equivalent, according to the new policy, approved unanimously at the WCPS Board of Education session on Tuesday. Previously, substitute teachers were required to obtain 64 college-credit hours, WCPS Director of Human Resources Wesley Waddle told the Daily News.

The starting pay is $103 per day, Waddle said. The new certificates do not allow full-time employment or the replacement of a regularly assigned teacher for more than 20 days, according to the policy. Those 21 years old and younger employed via this certificate can solely substitute-teach preschool through sixth grade, the policy states.

“Just like other districts, there’s a shortage of full-time and substitute teaching applicants,” Waddle said. “Our primary intention is to broaden our pool of applicants for substitutes and to draw on the wealth of life experience others might have who haven’t had the opportunity to earn college hours. They have valid experience in the community, or in their role as parents or caregivers. It would make them effective in the classroom as substitutes.”

Gov. Andy Beshear signed House Bill 387 to authorize the new requirement statewide in April.

In school year 2023, 10.9% of teachers statewide didn’t return to teaching in the commonwealth, 16% didn’t return to teaching in their districts and 20% didn’t return to teaching in their schools, according to a November 2023 Office of Education Accountability report. These were the highest figures in a 10-year observation period, the report states.

WCPS, which employs 253 certified substitute teachers, has 33 vacant certified teaching positions, Waddle said.

Teachers acquired through the certificate undergo a general background check comprising a criminal background check and child abuse neglect background check as well as a physical evaluation that includes drug screening, according to Waddles.

WCPS provides online training for all new hires, including substitutes, related to school safety, positive classroom management, harassment and discipline measures, Waddles said.

“The safety and security of all students is always our first priority, and while we’re excited for the potential of this additional avenue, we will continue the same procedural safeguards and procedures possible to have the best possible staff for our students,” Waddles said.

Those interested in applying can go to https://www.warrencountyschools.org/departments/human-resources/welcome-to-jobs

Construction updates

Supplementary documents for the meeting detailed multiple upcoming WCPS construction projects, from an upcoming storm shelter to the 180,000-square-foot IMPACT Center.

For Henry F. Moss Middle School’s upcoming community shelter, also known as its safe room, WCPS is planning a 13,467-square-foot auxiliary gymnasium, according to WCPS shelter documents.

WCPS, which applied for FEMA funding grants following the December 2021 tornado outbreak, expects to complete construction in 18 months, WCPS Chief Financial Officer Chris McIntyre told the Daily News.

The gymnasium – capable of housing 2,500 people – will serve basketball, volleyball, archery and other school activities as well as include bleachers, locker rooms and restrooms. With a 250 mph wind rating, the windowless structure would hold up in weather events such as the December 2021 tornadoes and, per FEMA code, stay operational throughout a storm and at least two hours after, McIntyre said.

It’ll serve school communities during school hours. For weather events outside of school hours, Parks and Recreation will open it up to anyone in the community, McIntyre said.

Warren Central High School is replacing its natural infield baseball turf with a turf infield for $584,603 from the capital outlay fund – the same kind of project done at Greenwood High School, McIntyre said. Warren East High School’s baseball infield turf will get the same update for the same cost plus $100,000 for a sinkhole repair, according to the project documents.

Scott and Ritter – which WCPS has worked with for years and has done “great” work, according to McIntyre – was the lowest bidder for sitework (also known as dirt work) planned for the upcoming elementary school at Dillard Road, at $957,020. The upcoming new school, to serve 850 students like Rich Pond Elementary School and the upcoming New Warren Elementary school, will be in the ballpark of $45 million, he estimated.

The $82 million IMPACT Center, all but entirely funded by $81 million the district recently acquired by selling bonds, remains on schedule to open in time for the fall 2026 semester. WCPS to date has paid off 17% of the $73.8 million in construction costs, according to center documents.

WCPS is building the new sites as Warren County remains the fastest-growing county in the commonwealth.

WCPS has had 640 in student growth compared to last year, WCPS spokesperson Lauren Thurmond told the Daily News.