SCHOOLS SEEK TEACHERS; SHORTAGE HAS DEVELOPED HERE, ELSEWHERE

Local school administrators laugh as they talk about stealing teachers from other school districts, but they aren't joking.

There is a growing shortage in available teachers in Missouri and across the nation. Teachers certified in special education, foreign language and secondary math and science course work are in high demand, and school administrators are starting to look anywhere -- including other school districts -- to find qualified applicants.

School administrators said they have changed some policies in recent years to make their districts more enticing to potential teachers.

For example, most school districts didn't credit incoming veteran teachers for all their years of experience. Today, however, many districts have changed that policy and accept all years of experience from those teachers.

This is important because teachers' salaries are based upon educational background and years of experience.

"I think more and more schools are starting to do that," said Roger Tatum, superintendent of Scott City schools. "It's helped us out, and we really haven't had any shortages in this school district."

Dr. Steve Del Vecchio, business manager of Cape Girardeau schools, said his district needs to hire about six teachers before school starts next month. The district has been hurt by its lower base salary for beginning teachers and the experience restrictions it places on veteran teachers, he said.

"That's something we hope to change, but it has definitely hurt our ability to hire experienced teachers," said Del Vecchio.

Area public school superintendents said money is probably the primary reason for the shortage of educators. Salaries for teachers have not kept up with other professional fields, and as a result college students are choosing jobs in the private sector.

"If you would compare starting teaching salaries to something in the math or science fields, I would think teaching salaries would be quite a bit lower," said Nell Holcomb schools Superintendent David Fuemmeler. "I really think it's potentially a salary issue."

Ray Shoaf, superintendent of Scott County Central, said he has been looking to fill a high school science teaching position for about two months with no luck. He said the school district, which has an enrollment of just over 400 students, is no match for the larger, richer districts that also need science teachers.

"We went on the Internet about three weeks ago, and over 150 school districts in Missouri were looking for science teachers," he said. "Unless you've got lots of money you don't get an edge."

School superintendents said growing concerns about school violence and student discipline limitations also may have contributed to the teacher shortage.

"Public education takes a lot of hard knocks," said Fuemmeler. "It probably isn't as enticing an area to go into as it once was because of negative publicity."

The Missouri government manages Missouri Works!, an Internet bulletin board created to bring together employers and job seekers in various fields. The site -- http://www.works.state.mo.us -- is updated daily.

There were 91 educational jobs from Missouri school districts posted at the site Thursday afternoon. The majority of the postings were for secondary math, science and special-education positions.

More than half of the listings were more than one month old.

"I don't know what happens if school starts and you don't have a teacher," said Shoaf. "I guess your option is to put someone in the classroom who's not qualified."

Most school districts place advertisements in the media and register with college placement services to find qualified teachers, they said.

However, if those methods don't yield good results, sometimes school districts will hire a certified teacher to work outside his area of certification. Or a noncertified person might be hired to teach, and the district will seek emergency certification for the teacher.

When that happens, applicants still must meet basic guidelines, they said.

"Even then, in getting the emergency certification, the person must meet certain qualifications," Shoaf said. "Not just anyone can get emergency certification."

In response to the increasing shortages in certified educators, faculty at Southeast Missouri State University are working to develop an alternative certification program. Once complete, the program will help noncertified degree-holders who obtain teaching positions to work towards teaching certification.

"It's called alternative certification and really seems to be picking up steam as an option for this shortage," said Tatum. "I think there'll be more of that in the future because of the shortages."