The Fredonia Central School District plans to discuss the rate of pay for substitutes at an upcoming meeting.

Substitute pay rates have been raised at several meetings over the past two school years. This past October, Beverli Horrocks, a retired teacher who served the District as a substitute, criticized the District for its low wages for substitutes.

“It is time that Fredonia starts paying their substitutes a competitive per diem wage,” Horrocks said. “… For a district that prides itself for being one of excellence, the wages paid to substitutes are below expectations.”

A Fredonia substitute for more than a decade, Horrocks stated she has a Master’s Degree in Education with a specialty in reading, with certifications in counseling, special education counseling, and learning disabilities. Still, she claimed in October that she received a daily rate of $115 to substitute teach at Fredonia.

“Having good substitutes is a valuable commodity for any district. Having good experienced subs, even more so. Keeping them requires the districts to find the means to show them their value, with the wages complementary and competitive,” Horrocks said.

The District recently increased pay for several positions throughout the District, including nurses, after a shortage of school nurses has greatly impacted the District. Presently, the District is conducting interviews for several school nurse candidates and plans to take action at the next Board of Education meeting. Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox stated that a discussion on substitute rates will also be held at the next meeting, which is tonight.

Also of note, the District accepted the resignation of Teacher Sarah Korzeniewski, effective April 19, and of Teacher Aide Katherine Rivera Cruz, effective April 22. Two new Teacher Aides, Gabrielle Jones and Annabelle Westbrook, were appointed to one-year probationary appointments.

The Board also appointed Rylee Beers, a Fredonia graduate, as a non-certified per diem Substitute Teacher. She is the daughter of Fredonia Teacher and Varsity Softball Coach Jesse Beers.

The District also approved the appointment of Kyra Cain as a non-certified Extended Leave Substitute, effective May 24. Ethan Willebrandt was approved as a Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Fredonia Trap Team.

The Board began the recent meeting with a moment of silence in honor of Claretta Lafferty Metzger, a former District employee who recently passed away.