During the Nov. 18 school board meeting, a brief highlight was made about the struggle to find teachers.
Wrestling Coach Steve Thorpe, who speaks every month at the board meetings as a representative of certified staff, spoke about a strike that the Albany school district is currently facing with its certified staff. As a cheerleader for the Sweet Home district, Thorpe praised the local district and its staff for being a positive place to work.
Superintendent Terry Martin added that he’s also appreciative of the school district staff who continue to do good work.
“Teaching’s an honorable profession,” he said. “It’s also incredibly hard work.”
Supt. Martin reported that there is a shortage of teachers. He used to recruit for a school district in Alaska, which required him to seek out applicants across the country, and he often found other out-of-state recruiters doing the same thing.
“We have been short teachers for 20-some years,” he said, adding that many believe it has to do with salary, but he believes people don’t get into the career for the pay.
In other business:
- Student representative Killan Boggs reported the school has started its canned food drive and has so far collected 1,300 pounds of food and $1,700 in donations. More than $1,000 of that donation was raised by students during a “Stick it to Hunger” game the school participated in, with the junior class raising the most, thanks to a $600 donation by one kid. The goal is to feed at least 50 families, Boggs said.
- It was reported the district will be adopting its new health curriculum soon. Barbi Riggs, director of teaching and learning, said that the Oregon Department of Education approved only one option of curriculum for elementary, one option for high school, and three options for junior high. In the spring, the district will have the selected curriculum on display for the public and staff to look at it and ask questions. The state requires school districts to purchase updated curriculum every seven years.
A board member asked if it’s possible to adopt open source curriculum instead, to which Riggs said the district can do what’s called an “independent adoption,” but it’s costlier and a lot of work because the district has to make sure the curriculum matches with Oregon State standards. - The junior high school won the attendance award this month.
- Ag-Science teacher Scott Jacobson was recognized as Agriculture Educator of the Year from the Linn County Farm Bureau.
- Supt. Martin showed a sample of new winter jackets donated to the school district from ENTEK employees for low income or homeless kids.