TEACHER CRUNCH FUELING COMPETITIVENESS

A teacher shortage has developed both in Missouri and across the nation, and local school districts are feeling the pinch.

With less than a month remaining until the start of school, Cape Girardeau public school district is still looking for a handful of teachers. And Cape Girardeau is not alone in this problem. Shortages are especially acute in the areas of math, science and special education.

Districts are being forced to become more competitive in terms of beginning salaries and crediting experience of veteran teachers toward pay scales. But states are also going to have to take a hard look at alternative accreditation programs to put more trained professionals to work as teachers.

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education recently took an important step to make the district more competitive in the hunt for qualified teachers. The board agreed to credit educators for all years of teaching in fully accredited school districts. Previously, new teachers to Cape were limited to eight years of experience in other districts toward the pay scale. That practice may have kept veteran teachers from accepting jobs here.

The is wise to examine its practices and make itself more competitive in this teacher shortage. The board also rewarded its teachers for enduring several years of fiscal restraint. The school board recently voted to end a salary freeze introduced last year and grant full credit on the salary schedule for years of service and education.

This too will help in recruitment for new teachers who otherwise might be hesitant to join a district in the midst of a salary freeze.

There may be several reasons for the teacher shortage. A booming economy may be partly to blame. Teaching isn't alone in feeling the pinch as employers fight over a smaller job pool. There's a growing competition by the private sector for potential teachers. And especially in the area of math and science, the private sector pay may be higher.