Substitute teacher pay increase approved

NEW LONDON – Substitute teachers in the School District of New London will see an increase in pay for the 2026-27 school year.
The New London Board of Education approved a pay increase for the different types of substitute teachers the district uses when it met July 8.
The rate increases are as follows:
• Increase from $137 to $145 a day for full day substitute teacher.
• Increase from $175 to $180 a day after 50-plus days as a substitute teacher.

• Increase from $200 to $205 a day to a retired School District of New London teacher.
• Increase from $220 to $225 a day for a long-term substitute teacher (10-plus days in the same position).
• Increase from $18.26 to $18.50 for a paraeducator sub.
New London District Administrator Scott Bleck told the board that the district does reward teachers who have retired from the School District of New London who come back to serve as a substitute teacher by paying them more than a regular substitute teacher.
While all school districts strive to provide competitive pay to substitute teachers, Bleck said the School District of New London feels it does provide a competitive pay. He acknowledged that some area school districts offer higher pay to substitute teachers.
“We feel this is what works here in our core contingency of staff that fall into this category,” Bleck said. “We work with them to utilize their skill set. This will be attractive for the individuals that see this as an opportunity.”
Board Vice President Katie Batten asked if the district has stayed consistently within its budget for substitute teachers in recent years.
Joe Marquardt, business services director for the School District of New London, said “most of the time it is pretty consistent,” but added that last school year the district paid out one of its higher amounts to substitute teachers in the last few years. He said this was due to a high number of teachers gone due to the Family and Medical Leave Act.