At least some readers should put today’s eduhonest.com entry in the “job hunt” category.

There will be an absolutely gruesome shortage of substitute teachers next year. I wrote earlier posts on subbing when the number of available sub positions began climbing early this year, but those posts were short term thoughts. I stand by the advice in “Yes, We Have No Substitutes Today” and hope it will help teachers to get the back-up they need, but I am afraid my advice will not help teachers in more challenging schools next year.

Schools may open in the fall. If they do, most of those retired men and women who form a fat percentage of many sub pools will not be clicking on the openings on their screens. The job pays poorly — in some areas less than $100 per day. For a great number of retired subs, subbing represents a little spending money and a reason to get up and change out of their pajamas. Subbing is often fun for retired teachers, a chance to read “A Porcupine Named Fluffy” to the crowd on the rug, or to share the story of the American Revolution with older kids.

But subbing is also an adventure in ducking germs. Cough, cough. Cough. Cough. “Can I go to the nurse?” The stream of kids headed to the Kleenex box throughout the day comes with the territory.

I don’t think many retirees will listen to that coughing next year. Until a viable vaccination becomes available, balancing the $100 per day against COVID-19 risk, I expect former subs to stay home and take long dog walks instead. Maybe a few will look into getting their real estate licenses. In the meantime, teachers will end up covering for each other during their students’ specials and their own planning periods.

Eduhonesty: As you consider where and what you may be teaching next year, if you are given any choice, I would keep these thoughts on subbing in mind. If I were searching for a teaching position, I would want to know how a possible district paid subs in comparison to nearby districts. The subs won’t exactly vanish. Young, aspiring teachers will still be there. Hearty moms with education credits and all their kids in school should mostly be showing up too. But if the pool shrinks significantly, those districts that pay $95 per day will go wanting while the district that pays $120 will find more help.

I would also talk to district teachers about their personal sub situations since money makes up only part of the equation. Supportive administrations and engaged students will attract subs even when the money is not great. Big red flag: Problems getting substitutes last year should make teacher candidates cautious. Any district that encountered sub troubles in 2019 will be in greater trouble — maybe much greater trouble depending on the make-up of their sub pool — in 2020.

I strongly recommend adding the sub factor into any job search this year.

Lack of subs may sound innocuous to those without experience — but going day after day with lost planning periods can be extremely rough. And those planning periods will disappear. If Mr. X is out with the flu, someone has to cover Mr. X’s classes. That “someone” becomes a group of teachers who give up their planning times to take over Mr. X’s classes throughout the day. An administrator may step in on occasion, but mostly the burden is shouldered by other teachers who may pick up a little extra pay, but who lose the downtime during their days.

P.S. I expect requirements to become a substitute to be relaxed soon. This might become the right time to invite the right friend or neighbor to join the sub pool in your school.