Illinois proposal aims to address teacher shortage

Posted on April 24, 2017
Normal West High School
Superintendent Mark Daniel said Unit 5 schools haven’t had as difficult a time as other school districts have had in attracting qualified teachers. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock

NORMAL – Unit 5 superintendent Mark Daniel said the teacher shortage that has plagued much of the state and nation hasn’t been as much of a problem for his district.

Daniel tells WJBC’s Scott Laughlin and Patti Penn Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan have produced a steady stream of strong teacher applicants, but he worries the state budget crisis will eventually cause more prospective teachers to seek work out of state.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Patti’s interview with Daniel on WJBC.

He said that’s what happened in Michigan where he last worked.

“What happened to that economy, it totally downturned and therefore they were shutting down schools and leaving the state,” Daniel said. “That’s what we don’t want to have happen here in Illinois, because that’s what’s going to happen if we don’t revive this economic engine.”

The Illinois State Board of Education reports there are more than 6,000 open teacher positions statewide.

State Sens. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) and Sue Rezin (R-Peru) are proposing a plan to attract more teachers by allowing a minimum 3.0 grade point average in their education classes in college.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…