On Monday, Senator Gene Dornink (R-Hayfield) presented his bill, SF 819, on the Senate Floor. This legislation addresses the shortage of substitute teachers for Minnesota schools through a pilot program for short-call substitute teachers. Prior to COVID, a shortage of substitutes existed and the addition of quarantines and other health-related absences, shortages can be even more problematic and can threaten the ability of schools to offer in-person learning.

“I am proud and honored to be carrying this legislation that will help our kids, families, and educators,” Senator Dornink said. “After a year of distance learning, it is massively important to make it as easy as possible for our children to learn in a classroom. When we, as legislators, go out into our districts we need to listen. Our school districts are asking for the ability to fill their classrooms and to make their own hiring decisions.”

Expanding the availability of short-call substitutes has been a demand from local school districts for years. A short-call substitute can fill in a classroom for up to 15 days. This legislation returns control to the communities and allows them to make decisions about what’s best in their classrooms. School officials across the state advocated for this bill and helped to get it through the Senate.

SF 819 passed off the Senate Floor with support from each party – Republican, Democrat, and Independent.