ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — The St. Johns County School Board approved a new initiative aimed at tackling the district’s ongoing teacher shortage. The plan focuses on increasing teacher salaries and attracting new educators to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in the classroom.
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The St. Johns County School District is grappling with a significant teacher shortage. In December, Action News Jax reported that the district had 85 instructional vacancies. This new plan aims to change that.
In December, teachers expressed concerns about their colleagues leaving for better pay in neighboring districts. Many pointed out that the district’s competitive pay is a growing concern.
RELATED: St. Johns County report points to struggle to retain teachers, create jobs
“It’s a very real issue. Maybe 15 or 20 years ago, this wasn’t something you even had to think about, but now it’s become a reality as educators seek higher pay in other districts,” said St. Johns County School District Superintendent Tim Forson.
RELATED: Teachers negotiate with St. Johns County school district about salary raises
Forson revealed that the district is already in the hiring phase for new schools that are scheduled to open soon.
“For example, we will open a new school next year. The principal has already been named and has started interviewing, recruiting, and identifying teachers to staff the school,” Forson added.
The district will leverage funds from recently approved voter referendums to tackle the issue. These funds include the approval of a property tax increase and an extension of the half-cent sales tax, which will be allocated to recruit more teachers and raise starting salaries.
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“We need teachers to teach our kids. If they raise the pay, I believe we can draw new teachers in,” said local parent Mary Boykin.
“Watching the growth here in the county is tremendous. I understand the need for more schools, but you also need to pay people if you’re going to have teachers working in empty schools. A lack of teachers is not ideal,” added parent Rich Campbell, highlighting concerns about the district’s ability to keep pace with its expanding student population.
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As part of its long-term planning, the district is not only addressing the need for additional school facilities but also the critical need for enough qualified educators to meet the demands of its growing student body.
The St. Johns County School Board unanimously approved the plan.
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