Woodbridge outsources its 800 substitute teachers

by Sergio Bichao on Jun 3rd | Email

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — The state's cash-strapped school districts have found another way to save money: outsourcing substitute teachers.

Woodbridge High School

Woodbridge last month became the latest school district to privatize its ranks of substitutes, which number about 800 in a district with about 1,200 full-time teachers.

Contracting with the Cherry Hill-based Source4Teachers is expected to save the school district about $350,000 a year, officials said, although the savings will mean the workers will be paid a lower daily rate.

Source4Teachers, which advertises itself on its website as the only company offering substitute staffing in the state, already is used by Carteret, Highland Park, Piscataway, Asbury Park, Aberdeen, Haddonfield and Lindenwold, among other districts. Company officials did not return a call for comment.

A 2009 survey by the New Jersey School Boards Association found that a majority of districts have privatized some or all of their support staff, including cafeteria workers, janitors and bus service. Supporters said outsourcing saves money, but unions argue that the savings come at the cost of quality and service.

In Woodbridge, the latest move means that the substitutes in the district will lose their jobs and membership in the local teachers union, although they will have the opportunity to apply for jobs with the company.

Those rehired will make almost 25 percent less per day than they were making as district employees.

The new daily rate — $85 to $105 a day — will be competitive with neighboring districts, and the workers also will receive health benefits, district personnel services director Joanne Shafer said. Woodbridge uses about 100 substitutes a day, she said.

The substitute staff is the latest group of Woodbridge employees to get privatized.

Last year, the district saved millions by laying off its cafeteria workers and custodians, privatizing the money-losing cafeterias and contracting out the janitorial work in a unique shared-services agreement with the municipal government.

Shafer said the school board will have approval over the substitutes the company uses. The workers will receive annual job training.

“The substitute teacher is not a baby-sitter,” Shafer said. “We expect them to come into a classroom to continue instruction so there is continuity for our students.”

Like Woodbridge InJersey on Facebook to stay in the know and join the conversation.