For the first time in about 13 years, mileage rates for substitute teachers in the Hanover School Division (HSD) have been updated.
At the most recent public board meeting, Ron Falk, chairperson for the board's finance committee, made the recommendation to move rates from:
- $5 to $6.50 for a return trip of 10.1 km to 30 km,
- $10 to $13.50 for a return trip of 30.1 km to 50 km; and,
- $15 to $19.50 for mileage of over 50.1 km with return.
Essentially, the mileage rate is moving from $0.47/km to $0.63/km, Falk says—noting the last time these rates were reviewed was around 2012.
The recommendation was carried unanimously, and will be effective starting Sept. 2025.
"It has been quite a number of years since this has been reviewed. Gas prices have increased, and we need to compensate...for the change. So that is the rationale behind this," Falk says.
Joe Thiessen, superintendent of the HSD, says changing these rates is one way the division is looking at keeping and attaining substitute teachers in the division.
"We're looking at every and all aspects to make sure we have a healthy substitute teacher pool for our schools, and this is just one more area that we're looking at so that we have competitive mileage rates," he says.
The division, among others, has been dealing with a shortage in substitute teachers and has expanded eligibility for the role as another means of staffing up.