GF taking steps amid talk of teacher shortages

Growing concerns over teacher shortages have many school districts developing stopgap measures to fill open slots in the classroom.

One survey suggests over a third of teachers have considered changing careers entirely.  The reasons for the shortage range from COVID-19 and burnout to budget issues…student behaviors…and student loan debt.

Superintendent Terry Brenner says the Grand Forks district currently has job openings.  Brenner says they are looking at ways to retain staff – including through the budget process.  “It certainly has been a goal of the board to attract and retain quality people and one piece is through compensation.  We have a budget that we need to reconcile as well.”

Brenner says they are also asking employees to be ambassadors to help recruit and retain staff.  “We are actually paying out small bonuses for those recruiting effort.  I don’t think it will be this percentage locally but what we are hearing nationally is to prepare for only 80% of staff to return next year.”

The district is also advertising in places where they haven’t done so before.

The staffing shortages go beyond the classroom.  Starting December 27th the district is paying the cost of internal people who attend a CDL/Passenger certification course to drive a bus.  Certification will be accredited through Northland Community & Technical College.