To the Editor:

In the 1930’s a “Help Wanted” sign would have been seen as a life saver for some people. Finding work was the problem, not the supply of qualified workers. It seems that in 2023, the exact opposite is our reality. We see “now hiring” signs nearly everywhere we go and no workforce willing to fill those positions. Restaurants are either closed or limit their seating because of a lack of workers, stores close early and put up a sign that says closed due to lack of staff. What happens when that scenario becomes the reality for our school? We are in need of teachers, substitutes, aides, and bus drivers. I am not sure the public truly understands the severity of the teacher shortage issue. We have made some great hires the last couple of years but the reality of the situation is that many of those positions only had one person apply for them and they only applied after specific recruiting strategies on the part of our own employees. The era of getting 50 applications for a teaching job and interviewing the best 5 candidates in order to select the best fit for our district is gone. I would love to believe that we will see a return to applicants competing for jobs instead of jobs competing for applicants, but that is not the current reality we are facing.  

Just as the public possibly isn’t aware of the critical shortage of teachers, legislators are not aware of the critical shortage of bus drivers. The requirements to get a bus driver’s license increased greatly making it even more difficult for a person to work in this field. There was a shortage of drivers before the increased requirements and now that supply pool is more shallow than ever. I recently read an article about Massachusetts activating the National Guard to drive school buses so that they could have school. We are not immune here at Fayette from both the shortage of teachers and bus drivers alike. Just this spring we had to cancel a band trip because of a lack of bus drivers. A few other times this year covering bus routes after school and meeting the need for our extra-curricular activities was very difficult. This is a crisis that is affecting the country at all levels.

So how can you help? The first thing that I would ask you to consider is getting your bus license or substitute teaching certificate. We can use sub bus drivers and substitute teachers and you would be serving your district but more importantly supporting our students through this service. The second solution that I would suggest is to be politically active. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) hosted a town hall public hearing on the specific plan for the recruitment and retention of teachers. I attended the event in Jefferson City and everyone in the room except for one man was either a current teacher or retired teacher. Get politically active and call your representative. Ask them for more support for public education and use your voice to stop harmful legislation.

We can make a difference both locally and at the state level to address these issues. The power to affect change lies first in our belief that we can make a difference, and secondly in our willingness to follow through with action from that belief. Please consider what you might be able to do both practically through service and politically through making your voice heard. If you need information for getting a bus driver’s license or a substitute teaching certificate feel free to call the district office anytime at (660)248-2153. This IS a big HELP WANTED sign and I believe we can be the difference.

Sincerely,

Brent Doolin, Fayette R-III Superintendent