ASHLAND — Ashland City Schools unanimously approved increased rates for substitute bus and van drivers, secretaries and paraprofessional positions at its board of education meeting on Monday night. 

Substitute bus and van drivers will earn $19 per hour. Substitute secretaries will make $16 an hour. Teacher, library, library keyboarding, health and transportation paraprofessionals, along with food service and custodian substitutes, will make $14.50 an hour. 

Some of those positions also saw pay bumps in January, according to previous reporting from Ashland Source. Substitute teachers got a pay increase in January too, with an increase to their daily rate. Substitute teachers make $110 a day at Ashland City Schools now, up from $85 a day before January. 

Ashland City Schools superintendent Steve Paramore said the district has to stay competitive with what other places are paying their employees. He said subbing for anyone in the district is “a noble position,” and “there’s no easy day.” So, he said it’s important to be conscientious of what the district is paying those positions.

“It highlights the importance of what these positions are,” Paramore said. “They are positions that have to be filled as much as possible, and there are days when we do struggle to find support staff subs.”

Pam Mowry, the board of education’s vice chair, said she used to work as a library paraprofessional, a health service paraprofessional and a substitute secretary. She made the motion to approve the increased rates.

“These are tough jobs, so I’m so glad to see this,” Mowry said. 

The board also approved bus routes for the year at Monday night’s meeting.

Paramore said the district has more than enough bus drivers now — something it couldn’t boast with a nationwide bus driver shortage over the last two years. He said there’s a substitute bus driver in the district’s ranks this year.

Paramore also highlighted bus drivers’ work helping students get to school even with road closures during the floods last week.

The board unanimously approved the treasurer’s consent calendar and the superintendent’s consent calendar too.

The next regular board meeting will be at the Ashland City School District Central Office on Sept. 25 at 5:30 p.m. Paramore said there may also be a special meeting on Sept. 11. Unless otherwise announced, that meeting will also be at the central office at 5:30 p.m.