WEST VIRGINIA — School superintendents in two counties say while it’s starting to improve, filling vacancies in and out of the classroom is still proving to be a challenge as the new year gets underway.
Berkeley County Schools Superintendent Ryan Saxe, formerly the superintendent in Cabell County, came on MetroNews ‘Talkline’ Monday as schools in Berkeley County experienced their first day back.
“I’ve been visiting some of our schools and our classrooms are filled with energy and enthusiasm that is just innate with new beginnings, so it’s really exciting here in Berkeley County right now,” Saxe said.
Saxe said while the teacher vacancy situation is a lot better than it was last year in the county with the significant reduction of necessary substitutes needing to fill classes on the first day, they still have over nearly 180 permanent sub positions.
He said it’s still a ways to go in getting back to normal teacher numbers.
“As of yesterday, we only had a couple of classroom vacancies that were not filled yet, but we still have a long way to go in making sure that we can get every single classroom filled with a permanent teacher,” he said.
Saxe said they also have about 50 service personnel openings, many of which are classroom aid positions. He said a lot of this is due to the state’s new Third Grade Success Act which is regulations to add aids to every second grade, and starting next year, third grade classrooms.
He said in Berkeley County, the challenge with that is having to add almost 100 new positions a year.
However, he said despite the challenges that come with the new legislation, he believes it will really ensure third grade reading-readiness and raise test scores.
Saxe went on to say it’s crucial, though, that those instructors get the support they need as well to be teaching-ready as opposed to just being another classroom assistant.
“Having an aid in first, second and third grad classrooms is a gamechanger, and I think we need to make sure as we implement those new positions those aids receive high-quality professional and developmental training alongside the teacher in the classroom,” Saxe said.
He said the focus of the legislation is to ensure that students have a foundational set of reading and math skills for when they enter fourth grade and beyond.
Saxe said they are also ultimately covered on bus drivers in Berkeley County as they have a very effective training program that prepares and places bus drivers into a permanent position almost immediately.
Meanwhile, in Wood County, Superintendent Christie Willis said students return to the classroom on Wednesday and they are all set and ready to go.
“Our teachers, administrators and crew over the summer, our maintenance department have all worked so hard to get our schools up and running, we’ve got fresh paint on many walls, new floors down in several buildings,” Willis said.
Willis said, however, that in Wood County there is a definite need for special education teachers. She said while most of the classes have been filled, there are a few special ed. classes they are still trying to fill by Wednesday.
She said there is also a need for substitutes, custodians, bus drivers as well as mechanics in the transportation department.
Willis said, but while there is a demand for more bus drivers in the county, they are able to run every bus daily and make it work.
“We have been blessed to have bus drivers and staff that are able to run them if we don’t have enough subs,” she said. “Our mechanics are wonderful and they jump in and help make those runs so that we are able to make our routes.”
Wills said their two main priorities in Wood County is student safety and student learning.
“We are blessed in Wood County to have school resource officers in our schools, in our middle and high schools, so we greatly appreciate the collaboration with the police department so we are able to do that,” Willis said. “And also student learning, so we just received our GSA results for the year, Wood County Schools is in the top five in math ELA and science, so we are thrilled and our teachers are ready for another great academic year.”
Saxe said despite the challenges in public schools, teachers feel fortunate to be able to serve students and provide high-quality education.
“Our students are why we do what we do, and nurturing our young minds, giving them every opportunity to have high-quality learning experiences within our schools, and to see their excitement to come through the schoolhouse doors every morning is why we do what we do,” said Saxe.