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Over the past few years we've seen Jamestown and other school districts around the county struggle to fill positions. Clymer, as recently as August, was struggling to find a science teacher while examining dual enrollment opportunities for chemistry students. The district was also looking at digital learning opportunities for art classes and electives as well since the school didn't have an art teacher for all grades. Jamestown was advertising for positions as late as August and has made no secret over the past couple of years about the struggle to fill open positions and the district's changing approach to recruiting new teachers. Jamestown and Cassadaga Valley extended a transportation agreement that allows the districts to help each other transport students, typically to BOCES, while districts are sharing more bus drivers and transportation staff.
And it's not just here.
The Warren County School District just across the state line is struggling to find Spanish teachers for its two high schools, choosing to use online instruction and long-term substitutes to address a shortage of Spanish teachers at Eisenhower High School. Warren is using online instruction through the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College and long-term substitutes while also trying to get existing teachers certified to teach Spanish as well.
Clymer is partnering with Infinity Performing Arts in Jamestown to provide instruction to Clymer students in ceramics, drawing and painting class, mixed media and studio art classes while school staff will help manage and supervise classrooms, supplement the Infinity instruction and help with elementary art. JCC classes of Calculus and Geometry are planned to be shared with Sherman Central School this year as well, as some students have expressed interest.
Schools in both counties are doing their best to plug gaps, but this won't be the last time this situation rears its ugly head. The problem isn't just a New York or Pennsylvania problem; it truly is a regional problem caused in part by a decrease in college students who are interested in teaching as a profession. Merging schools, as happened in Warren County last year, is one option to deal with the shortage of teachers. Another way, as Clymer is finding out with its Infinity partnership, is finding ways to be nimble to fill instructional gaps.
Schools aren't immune from the hiring problems that have become prevalent for private sector businesses throughout the region. That means school administrators and boards of education will have to get creative to provide the courses and services they're required to provide.