Just like housing and groceries, our costs are going up to run schools. Just like businesses and corporations, we must pay higher salaries to offset the national shortage of teachers and staff. The teacher shortage was escalating prior to COVID-19 and then accelerated as more teachers left the profession during pandemic years. The corporate world is now strategically paying higher salaries to recruit educators to fill their vacancies.  If we do not respond, our students will suffer. In addition, fewer college students are choosing education majors and teacher programs. Like any industry struggling to recruit workers, we must pay higher salaries to keep strong educators in schools and attract new teachers to the field. Existing dollars just don’t cover it.

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