State employees can now use leave time from their jobs to fill in as substitute teachers while Utah schools continue to face a staffing crisis due to the ongoing pandemic.

The allowance comes through an executive order issued by Gov. Spencer Cox on Monday. He is asking state employees to use up to 30 hours of paid administrative leave to substitute teach, help in the cafeteria or work elsewhere in schools to ensure students can continue to attend in person through the end of the academic year.

“We know that kids learn best in the classroom, so we want to do what we can to help schools stay open,” Cox said in a statement, reiterating his administration’s priority for face-to-face learning. “Our teachers and our children deserve our support during this difficult phase of the pandemic.”

Cox’s order applies to the state’s 22,000 employees. With 30 hours, each employee could volunteer to substitute for about four days.

Prior, schools have been tapping librarians, counselors and custodial staff to fill in for teachers that have been out sick with the surge in coronavirus cases powered by the omicron variant in Utah.

Last week, the Salt Lake Chamber also announced a partnership with Salt Lake City and Granite school districts to encourage private employers in all industries to allow their workers to fill in at Utah schools.

All employees who choose to work in schools, either with the state order or the chamber’s push, must apply through the school district and pass a background...

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