By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA — The Massena Central Board of Education on Thursday approved a raise for experienced substitute teachers whose certification has expired.

Right now, the district pays $100 per day to substitutes with state teaching certification and $85 for those with no certification.

The resolution the board passed applies only to those who have been substitute teaching at least three consecutive years at Massena for a minimum of 40 days each year.

Superintendent Patrick Brady said he was proposing the raise because there are a number of substitutes who were certified when they began working years ago, but their certification has since lapsed.

“After consideration, we looked at some of them who have been working here up to 14 years and had secondary degrees … every year working over 40 days for the district,” Brady told the board. “I think it’s fair. It’s difficult to fund substitute staff.”

A document from Brady made public prior to the meeting says the change will affect five people, so “therefore, it would not be a major cost to the district.”

Brady told the board that substitute costs at MCS went down $113,000 between the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years.