Tue., November 3, 2009 2:17pm (EST)
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Cash-Strapped Schools Trim Substitutes
By Melissa Stiers
Updated: 4 months ago

VALDOSTA, Ga. — Cash-strapped school systems across the state have found another area to cut… the cost of hiring substitute teachers.

Valdosta City Schools enlist volunteers to substitute teach in order to trim budget. (Image courtesy of VCS)
One district is even enlisting volunteers. Valdosta City Schools in South Georgia is using para-professionals as short term fill-ins but also leaning on people in the community.

The school's superintendent office says the volunteers are mostly retired teachers and people with teaching degrees, but some employees from the local bank are also chipping in their time.

The move has let the system avoid teacher furloughs ordered by Governor Sonny Perdue earlier this year.

The superintendent's office says it will save the school system about $250,000.



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