NORWICH – It has been more than eight years since Norwich substitutes received a raise in pay, a fact which doesn’t sit well with the district’s retired teachers.

“I just think that with the experience that I have ... that I’m worth more,” explained Jim Wysor, the retired Norwich High School science teacher who originally brought the matter to the school board’s attention in January.

Wysor returned to the board on March 17, and this time he brought back up. Showing their support for the retired teacher’s efforts were both other district retirees and several current Norwich teachers.

Despite this showing of support, however, Wysor is still finding the proposition a hard sell with members of the school board and the district’s administration. It’s not just the budget that stands in their way, although it is surely a factor. The real challenge is the administration, which doesn’t see a need for change because they say the district’s substitute compensation rates are largely on par with other local districts.

In Norwich, non-certified subs receive $60 a day in compensation, certified subs receive $65 and retired, certified teachers are paid a per diem rate of $100.

“We’re right in line with everyone else,” reported Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan, as he ran through a list of what subs are paid in surrounding schools.. Of the districts on the list, only Sherburne-Earlville pay a higher rate than Norwich for retired teachers. At S-E, retired teachers in general receive $105 per day, while those who retire from the S-E district are paid $125.

After relaying the information, O’Sullivan gave his recommendation to the board: that no increase in pay be given at the present time. He then reiterated the district’s financial constraints regarding next year’s budget.

Following the superintendent’s presentation, board member Joe Stagliano asked O’Sullivan to provide the board with the number of days retired teachers had substituted in the past year at a future meeting.

When there was no further discussion by the board, Wysor asked if it was now a dead issue or if there was a chance of addressing the topic again before the district’s 2009-10 budget was finalized.

Board President Bob Patterson responded, saying the board would discuss the issue further, but not until the next board meeting when they would begin hashing out the finer details of the budget.

During public comment, Wysor and others in attendance took the opportunity to express their feelings about substitute pay and the benefit of retired teachers filling these roles.