Sacramento Unified superintendent pleads for volunteers, subs

Sacramento City Unified is the latest school district to turn to the community for help overcoming its staffing shortages. This morning  Superintendent Jorge Aguilar sent out a video plea to the community asking for volunteers and substitute teachers.

“I’m asking all of Sacramento for your support,” Aguilar said. “If you already have been cleared to volunteer in our district our schools need all hands on deck. Please reach out to your child’s school to ask what you can do to pitch in. Please. Please consider making a difference in the lives of students and families that depend on us to keep our schools open.”

Aguilar said that the district staff is stretched so thin that principals and district administrators have been teaching in classrooms.

District leaders are hoping that an executive order recently signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom will make more people eligible to substitute. While substitutes will still either have to pass a test or required coursework to fulfill the state’s basic skills requirement, they no longer will have to file an application for a substitute credential. The order also makes it easier for retired teachers to return to work.

Palo Alto Unified Superintendent Don Austin issued a similar call for help  to parents Sunday.

Sacramento City Unified has information about volunteering or substituting on its website. Volunteers can also go to the district’s Serna Center at 5735 47th Ave.