After retiring from teaching in the Columbia district, Marjorie Bay decided to return to her passion by substitute teaching.

"Sometimes they say, 'Don't get so excited!' But, I say this is exciting, though," she explained. "You're on the cutting edge of learning some things."

Money wasn't the issue compared to Bay's love for students and their learning. She said a pay raise for substitute teachers would be a good incentive,although it shouldn't be the main concern.

"I don't think it's so much a matter of money, but a matter of commitment by substitutes," she explained.

However, substitute teachers have asked for more money from the Columbia Board of Education. The district pays $65 a day for each substitute. The proposed raise would increase that to $75. A substitute teacher can work up to 550 hours a year in the classroom.

"We want to make sure our pay is on an equal footing, if not better than, most school districts," said Ed Hanson, president of the Columbia Teachers Association.

Although Hanson is confident the pay raise will pass, school board members didn't comment on it at Monday night's meeting.