Aug. 22, 2000
For the first time, schools across Utah may have to start the new year with substitutes.
Administrators can't hire enough qualified teachers.
Education Specialist Nadine Wimmer has more on the teacher shortage.
Orientation for more than 300 new teachers in the state's largest school district.
But these empty seats pose a problem.
Barry Newbold/Superintendent, Jordan School Dist. "THE TALK OF TEACHER SHORTAGE HAS NOW BECOME REAL FOR US."
Nadine Wimmer, Education Specialist: "TROUBLE IS, EVEN WITH THIS LARGE GROUP OF NEW TEACHERS, AN EVEN BIGGER GROUP HAS EITHER QUIT OR RETIRED, AND THIS YEAR, MANY DISTRICTS ARE COMING UP SHORT."
SUPERINTENDENT BARRY NEWBOLD: "WE'VE TRIED EVERYTHING WE CAN THINK OF TO PURSUADE INDIVIDUALS TO BE HERE, TO COME."
New teachers got offers in several states.
Melissa Jones/Teacher: "PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS CALLING YOUR HOUSE SAYING, 'DO YOU HAVE A JOB? WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME WITH US?'"
Warlough Crane/Teacher: "IT'S EXCITING TO FEEL LIKE THEY WANT YOU, AND THEY'RE INTERESTED IN HAVING YOU BE A PART IN WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT."
Many teachers took those offers, others looked for work elsewhere.
MELINDA COLTON/JORDAN DISTRICT: "WE'VE GOT SOME THAT HAVE QUIT THE PROFESSION ALTOGETHER. THEY'RE JUST DISGUSTED, THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING COMPENSATED, SO THEY'RE GOING TO FAST FOOD, BANKING AND MAKING MORE MONEY."
Debra Bandis/Teacher"IT'S OVERWHELMING, AND SOMETIMES IT'S JUST NOT WORTH THE PAY."
Jordan District has already acknowleged they'll likely start the year understaffed.
But leaders assure parents they won't just hire any teacher to fill the position.
"WE'D RATHER TAKE OUR TIME AND START OPENING DAY WITH SUBSTITUTES. WE HATE TO DO THAT, BUT THEY WILL BE QUALIFIED, LONG-TERM SUBS, WHO'VE BEEN THROUGH TRAINING."
In these last days, schools will even try luring veteran teachers out of retirement.
To give you an idea, rural districts like Uintah tell us they're in such dire straights they're conducting hiring interviews this week on the phone.
