FROM: Robert Fisher

On Monday September 18, 2000 the District will switch on the long anticipate SubFinder automated substitute teacher request and assignment system.  Substitute teacher who have registered with the system, by calling (877) 528-7378 (LAUSDSUb) and voicing their name and confirming their personal information such as telephone number and days of availability, will begin to receive assignment calls on Monday September 18 and thereafter.

Detailed instruction for registering and using the SubFinder system will be sent to each substitute teacher by Robert Fisher prior to the start of the regular calendar Fall semester.  SubFinder will provide each substitute with the ability to customize his or her availability to best suit their needs. For example, you will be able to change your days of availability right over the phone.  You will be able to change the telephone number at which SubFinder calls you.  Perhaps the most anticipated feature will be the ability to call in to browse for and accept positions for which you have been "name requested".  As you become more familiar with the SubFinder system each substitute will learn to utilize the system to customize your  availability and service to schools.  SubFinder will call out at the regular time from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. but will be available for call in browsing of assignments on a nearly 24 hour a day basis.  An evening call out period from 6 to 9 p.m. will also be available and will allow substitutes to accept requests in advance eliminating the need to "wait for the call" in the morning.  If you are not at home to receive the call in the evening you will not lose out as the system will simply recall you during the morning call out period.

There are TWO very important things to do and remember when using SubFinder. 

FIRST:You must call LAUSDSUB (877) 528-7378 to voice yourself and confirm your personal information.

SECOND: You must Write Down and Remember your Job Number when accepting assignments from SubFinder. This number identifies you as the right substitute for the job and is also necessary whenever you need to call up the job to hear the job once again or cancel the job if you have a change in plans.

    We all look forward to SubFinder and the future. 

Q: Are there going to be places available for training on the new system?

A: I have confidence that the registration procedures are fairly simple and straightforward. Because of the number of substitutes involved and the tight timeline it was our conclusion that trying to have mass meetings to train everyone was not possible.  We do have a video tape which includes both regular employee and substitute employee instructions.  Each school site will be receiving this video within the next two weeks and it is hoped that substitutes will be able to view it along with regular staff.  Each segment (employee and substitute) runs approximately 10 minutes.  KLCS will be running our tape also but I don't have a schedule yet.

Q: What do I do if more than one teacher requests me for the same day?

A: As to your question about accepting name requests, you will be able to call in to the system and hear all of the requests for your service. You can chose to listen to each assignment and then decide which one best suits your needs. The other assignment requests which you have decided not to accept will be returned to the call out process for filling.  You will be able to browse for assignments in the evening, you will not have the ability to hear multiple assignments during the morning call out except that you will be able to decline an assignment giving the reason that you wish to hear another job in which case the SubFinder will call you again, if there is a need for your service.