| Without students, there are no schools. Of | | | | Las Vegas Schools district should go about the |
| course, amassing students without teachers | | | | downsizing. |
| doesn't make a school either. This is the problem | | | | Many teachers choose other school systems in |
| that Las Vegas Schools are currently facing. In | | | | which to teach in part because of the $33,000 |
| fact, it is a problem they have had for a very | | | | starting salary. Las Vegas Schools leaders want it |
| long time. Las Vegas Schools have made a public | | | | to be at $40,000 to compete with other school |
| plea. The Las Vegas Schools need 1,163 teachers | | | | districts in the country. The Las Vegas Schools |
| to fill vacancies before the upcoming school year, | | | | superintendent would like lawmakers to raise |
| beginning in August 2007. That is almost twice the | | | | taxes to increase teacher salaries. |
| number the district needed last year. If teachers | | | | No teacher worth their salt is in this profession for |
| aren't hired to fill the gap, the district serving Las | | | | the money. Corny as it sounds, teachers (most |
| Vegas Schools will not have many options. | | | | of them at any rate) are teachers because they |
| Las Vegas Schools will have to increase class size, | | | | want to make a difference in a child's life. Many |
| meaning some teachers would have to teach | | | | have become teachers because they have been |
| second classes in addition to their normal work | | | | inspired by their own teachers, or want to be a |
| load. This would also take away valuable time | | | | part of the improvement of public education in |
| needed for lesson planning. | | | | this country. It is indeed incredibly rewarding to |
| The school district will have to find more teachers | | | | see the lights go on in a child's eyes when he or |
| by using creative recruiting techniques. The | | | | she has grasped a difficult concept; it makes it all |
| number of applications is down by a third from | | | | worthwhile. Teachers are teachers because they |
| last year, and Las Vegas Schools have almost | | | | want to teach, end of discussion. However, they |
| twice the number of teaching positions still to fill. | | | | do have to live, eat, and sleep in safe and warm |
| The superintendent of Las Vegas Schools says | | | | homes. Unfortunately, this costs money, and |
| hiring and keeping quality teachers are at the root | | | | money is what Las Vegas Schools teachers need |
| of all of his educational initiatives. He claims to | | | | more of. The district has no hope of recruiting |
| have done everything he can to attract teachers- | | | | and retaining quality educators without ensuring, in |
| even partnering with national programs. Teams of | | | | part, a good salary to live on. |
| principals from several Las Vegas Schools are | | | | Hopefully, the leaders of Las Vegas Schools will |
| visiting cities that are downsizing their teaching | | | | take this need to heart and do everything they |
| staff. The hope is that the teams will get some | | | | can to make their goals in regards to recruiting |
| ideas and valuable suggestions on how exactly the | | | | and retaining teachers a reality. |