Taunton schools have 20 open teaching positions. Here is what we know.

TAUNTON - Half of the school year passed but Taunton Public Schools is still looking to fill vacant teacher positions.

There are currently 20 teacher vacancies throughout the district including at Taunton High School, Parker Middle School, Martin Middle School, Joseph C. Chamberlain Elementary School, James L. Mulcahey Elementary School, Elizabeth Pole Elementary School, and Harold H. Galligan Elementary School.

Superintendent of Schools John Cabral said teacher vacancies have forced some classroom teachers to provide instruction to 27 students. The ideal class size is 20-24 students, he added.

Cabral said 27 students in a classroom is the maximum amount allowed under a collective bargaining agreement with the Taunton Educators Association, a labor union representing more than 550 teachers.

Cabral said the school department began advertising for these positions in June after the school budget was passed.

Substitute teachers helping to fill the void

Cabral said the school district is fortunate to have dedicated substitute teachers to help cover some vacant teacher positions. He added that Taunton has a "relatively low educator and administrative turnover" compared to other schools districts in Massachusetts.

“Our human resources team does extensive networking with local organizations, colleges, and universities,” he said.

Cabral said teaching vacancies exist during the current academic year because of anticipated retirements, resignations and leaves of absence that have been taken by some current teachers.

"A total of 31 teachers retired or resigned when the 2022-2023 school year ended," he said. "There was one dismissal last year."

A National Centers for Education Statistics survey of 1,300 school districts nationwide in October 2023 reveals that most of these districts struggled to hire teachers before the academic year began and low salaries deterred many potential hires. The survey also indicated nationwide teacher shortages are common in special education, science, and foreign languages.

Applicants offered 'competitive compensation salaries'

Cabral said Taunton Public Schools offers “competitive compensation salaries” to attract teaching applicants.

Salaries are based on qualifications and years of experience. Cabral said the district pays a teacher with a bachelor's degree and no previous full-time teaching position an annual salary of $53,142. A first-year teacher with a master's degree earns $56,216.

Taunton schools seek eight special education teachers

There are currently eight vacant special education teaching positions in all grade levels, including two positions at Taunton High School, one at Martin Middle School, one at John F. Parker Middle School, one at Joseph C. Chamberlain Elementary School, one at James L. Mulcahey Elementary School, and two positions that serve the entire school district.

Cabral attributed part of the increase in special education teachers to the creation of "reset rooms" for students throughout the district.

“These reset rooms help support students’ social-emotional learning and mental health,” he said, adding that there are two reset rooms at Taunton High School and a single reset room at Parker Middle School, Friedman Middle School and Martin Middle School.

"The reset rooms are staffed with a school social worker and academic tutor," he said. "Only one academic tutor position is unfilled."

Cabral said all of the school district's special education students are receiving services according to their Individualized Education Programs (IEP) despite teacher vacancies.

"This is being done by current special educators or related staff, contracting services, or retired certified special educators and speech and language therapists," he said.

Taunton High School teacher vacancies

According to school officials, there are seven vacant teaching positions at Taunton High School including teachers for history, math, biology, two special education teachers, a library media specialist, and an Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp. instructor.

Cabral said the Junior ROTC program has a temporary full time instructor that will teach students until a permanent replacement is hired.

Applicants who want to serve as an Air Force Junior Reserve Training Corp instructor must meet the military’s requirements. The Air Force requires Junior ROTC instructors to have served in the Air Force and complete a training certification course to teach aerospace science, leadership education, and health wellness education to high school students. State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education officials do not require a Junior ROTC instructor to have an license to teach in Massachusetts.

Middle schools seek special education teachers, instructional coaches

According to Cabral, Parker Middle School and Martin Middle School each have a vacant substantially separate special educator teacher position that provide specialized instruction to students.

“A substantially separate special educator provides specialized instruction and support to students who require support and intervention outside the general classroom more than 60% of the time,” he said.

Martin Middle School also has two vacant instructional coach positions that advise teachers on how to help students learn.

“Instructional coaches are highly experienced and accomplished educators who help colleagues redefine their instructional skills and strategies,” Cabral said.

Three vacant positions at the elementary level

Galligan Elementary School has a vacant fourth grade teaching position, Chamberlain Elementary School is looking to hire a fourth grade special education teacher and Mulcahey Elementary School needs a pre-kindergarten teacher.

Taunton district-wide teaching specialists sought

Officials are also seeking to hire two special educator teachers, an adjustment counselor, two speech and language pathologists, and a library media specialist who will work with students throughout the school district.

Potential teacher applicants can find more information about the open positions by visiting the Taunton Public School's website at www.tauntonschools.org or by calling 508-821-1100.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Retirements, resignations contributed to teacher vacancies