Cohasset Boosts Substitute Nurse Pay to $200 Per Day

School committee aims to attract more qualified candidates, ensure student health coverage

COHASSET, MA - August 21 - The Cohasset School Committee voted unanimously Monday to increase the daily pay rate for substitute nurses from $160 to $200, addressing difficulties in finding qualified candidates and ensuring adequate healthcare coverage for students.

Superintendent Sarah Shannon presented the proposal, citing the need to be competitive with nearby districts. "Nurses are essential to our schools. We can't function without them," Shannon said.

The current rate of $160 per day was on the low side compared to surrounding communities. Hull, Hingham, and Marshfield all pay $175 per day, while Hanover offers $35 per hour, equivalent to $227 for a 6.5-hour day.

Shannon recommended increasing the rate to between $180 and $200 per day. "I think that to support our nurses and to have the coverage that we need for our students, my recommendation to you is that we increase our sub-rate to something between $180 and $200 a day," she stated.

The superintendent emphasized that while this isn't a major budgetary item, it addresses an acute need. Nurses are required not only for daily student health support but also for field trips and to cover for full-time nurses who may be absent.

School Committee Chair Craig MacClellan noted the importance of implementing the change before the start of the school year. "It's kind of important that we do this before the school year starts. So that's why, and this is our last meeting before the school year starts," he said.

The decision came after discussions with school nurses and representatives from the Cohasset Teachers Association (CTA). The CTA was involved in the meetings and supported the rate increase.

Committee member Ted Carr moved to set the new rate at $200 per day, which was seconded and approved unanimously by the three members present.

The change is expected to help build a stronger pool of substitute nurse candidates. Shannon noted that nurses can make significantly more money in other districts or doing per diem work in emergency rooms, making it crucial for Cohasset to offer competitive rates.

This pay increase is part of a broader effort to ensure student safety and health coverage in Cohasset schools. The district will now move forward with advertising the new rate to potential substitute nurses.

The Cohasset School District is partnering with Buttonwoods Books to host a community discussion Sept. 18 about the book "The Anxious Generation," exploring the effects of smartphones and technology on child development.

The event will take place at 7 p.m. in the Cohasset High School auditorium. It will feature a panel discussion including a pediatrician, a Cohasset teacher, and student Ella Lynch, who has conducted independent research on the topic.

Superintendent Shannon emphasized the importance of the discussion, stating, "We invite people to come on the 18th because it does kick off the conversation. We don't know where all of this is going to go, but we do know that the time has come for us to be having these conversations as a full community."

The school committee and district administrators plan to attend and participate in the event. MacClellan noted, "This might be a good gateway discussion about supporting student physical and mental wellness."

In other news, the district has begun a feasibility study with AI3 Architects to explore options for renovating or rebuilding the middle-high school. The study includes both land/facility analysis and educational visioning sessions.

Superintendent Shannon explained, "There are two tracks of work that happen simultaneously when you do a building feasibility study. And those two tracks are sort of the land and the facility track, and then the educational track."

Community input sessions are planned for staff, students, parents, and town committees. These sessions will help shape the district's vision for teaching and learning in the new or renovated facility.

"We're going to be hosting some visioning sessions that are inclusive of staff, students, parents, guardians, administration, school committee. And we're going to talk about what do we want for teaching and learning within the Cohasset public schools," Shannon said.

The district is also seeking funding from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for a roof repair project at Joseph Osgood School. MSBA representatives are scheduled to visit the school on Friday to assess the 25-year-old roof.

"Our roof at the Osgood is 25 years old, and it is reaching the end of its technical life span," Shannon explained. A decision on whether the project will be invited into the MSBA's Accelerated Repair Program is expected by Oct. 30.