JLAS, St. Mary ready for first day with sufficient teaching staffs
GAYLORD — As the summer races by, the Johannesburg-Lewiston Area Schools and Gaylord St. Mary Cathedral School will officially welcome everyone back on Aug. 29.
As students and teachers resume learning, some labor-related issues are looming over schools in Otsego County and the state: a shortage of teachers and, in some cases, support staff.
School districts around the state are struggling to retain and recruit teachers. It’s a problem that’s been brewing for awhile as fewer new teachers graduate from the state’s colleges of education and the number of retirements increases.
There is also a need for more substitute teachers along with support personnel like bus drivers in many districts.
More:Petoskey Public Schools hires nine teachers, administrators ahead of new school year
Johannesburg-Lewiston Area Schools
Superintendent Katy Xenakis-Makowski said the district (JLAS) has enough teachers.
"We still have a posting for one teacher and a posting for some aides. But we have enough teachers," she said.
JLAS also has enough subs "but we can always use more, especially people who are retired teachers," said Xenakis-Makowski.
She believes that the teacher scarcity is more of long-term problem.
"While some universities are seeing an uptick (in enrollment in teacher training) we need to attract more people to the profession. I think that has been a long time coming and it won't be a quick recovery," she added.
JLAS is also set for bus drivers and food service workers.
"We have one posting for a food service worker but we are ready to go there and our transportation department is fully staffed at this point," Xenakis-Makowski said.
Gaylord St. Mary Cathedral School
Principal Jerry Belanger said the Catholic school still has openings for students.
"St. Mary Cathedral still has openings at all levels with two classes per grade throughout our elementary classes. This is a guarantee that we maintain small class sizes for our students and teachers," he said, adding that the school also has scholarship money available.
Belanger also said St. Mary is fully staffed at this time.
"I am unsure if the teacher shortage is long term, but I do know our school is blessed to have a wonderful staff ready and able to begin the year," he said.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: JLAS, St. Mary ready for first day with sufficient teaching staffs
