The Selma Times-Journal

Substitute teachers in Dallas County will see more in their checks this fall.

On Monday, the Dallas County Board of Education raised the daily rate for substitute teachers from $40 to $55.

This puts Dallas County at the same pay rate as schools systems in Autauga and Lowndes counties and Selma school.

Perry County pays $40 per day and Wilcox County pays its substitutes $50 a day.

Dallas County School Board members see the increase as an incentive, especially because county schools &8212; Orrville, Selma and Valley Grande &8212;

have so many miles between them.

On Wednesday, the state average per gallon of unleaded gasoline compared to the same time last year looked like this:

regular $3.946, up $1.111

mid $4.219, up $1.188

premium $4.344, up $1.223

Don Willingham, administrative assistant, said substitutes are chosen from the system&8217;s database.

Long-term substitutes may work for weeks to fill in for a teacher on maternity leave, for example, and are not difficult to place.

A short-term substitute may only work for a day and are usually given a short notice. That can be a problem if that person has another commitment.

Willingham believes the raise was a positive move.