Some Jeff Davis Parish school board members want to try a different approach to address shortage of substitutes needed to fill positions when full-time employees are absent.

Board member Summer Lejeune recently asked the board to consider covering the cost of fingerprints to encourage more applicants.

“I put a post out on Facebook about having people come apply for a sub,” Lejeune said. “I’ve been getting a lot of feedback that the people most likely to do that are your stay-at-home moms and people like that and they can’t really afford to front the $55 to get that fingerprinting done. That is the only thing holding them back.”

Substitute applicants are currently required to pay $55 to the Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office to have their fingerprint done by the Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office as part of their background check. Drug screens are paid by the school board.

The $55 fee may be a significant barrier for stay-at-home moms and others who can’t afford the fee, she said.

Having the school board cover that costs would give potential applicants a chance to get hired as a substitute, she said

Finance Director Christin LeGros said having the school board pay for the fingerprinting cost is “doable,” but the funding source would have to come from somewhere.

It could cost the board $5,500 a year for 100 applicants, according to Lejeune.

Among the other options, board member Paul Trahan proposed reimbursement for applicants who are later hired, suggesting that reimbursement could occur after the first check or a month or two of working.

“I don’t want to set a precedent that anybody can come here and sign up and never work a day for us,” Trahan said. “We can’t just hire for free. I’m good with reimbursing. I think that is doable then that’s a person that’s giving something to us at that point.”

Superintendent John Hall said substitutes include teachers, bus drivers, janitors, office personnel and food service personnel.

“I think the valve is that we are getting a sub,” Hall said. “If they work even three or four days, that $55 is well spent. Even if they just work a handful of days, we have got our money’s worth already.”

Assistant Superintendent Ben Oustalet said the need for substitutes fluctuates during a school year.

“We are in better shape right now, but need a few more to get in,” Oustalet said. “We are lucky that we have people that come in.”

The district holds a substitute job fair each year to attract potential applicants.

The school board’s Policy Committee is expected to draft proposals for the board to consider next month including covering the cost of fingerprinting, reimbursing applicants after their first check and adjusting the payroll system to avoid long delays.