By Alabama Public Radio
Florence, AL – A service that's been supplying temporary workers to businesses for years is now going to do the same thing with substitute teachers for public schools in Florence. The Florence school board voted last Tuesday to hire Kelly Services. The Florence system will be the first in Alabama to use such a service. But it's a common practice in other states; Kelly already furnishes substitutes for 42 other states. Alabama Association of School Boards spokesperson Sandra Sims deGraffenried says the move is innovative and will save time for administrators. But Paul Hubbert with the Alabama Education Association says the estimated cost of $77,000 a year is almost equal to the cost of two teachers. Hubbert says the money could be better spent on putting more teachers in the classroom. Substitute teachers in Alabama make about $55 per day. Hubbert also predicts that Kelly will not catch on in other areas of the state.