JACKSON, Mich. — "The saying a new teacher shortage, is very accurate," said Geoff Bontrager, Northwest Schools Superintendent.
A teacher shortage is well on its way to becoming a crisis here in Michigan. Governor Gretchen Whitmer brought it up in her state of the state address.
The Northwest School District is having a harder time finding qualified teachers and seeing fewer and fewer people applying to open jobs in the last five years.
"When we would post a teaching job we would get anywhere between 15 to 20 to 25 applicants. And what we find now is we are just getting a handful," said Bontrager.
Geoff Bontrager with Northwest Schools said the problem is fewer people that are going into teaching. Enrollment is down at the collegiate level.
"And it is sad because as we all know we've all been in school, some of us a lot longer ago than others. Teachers make a big impact," said Bontrager.
Bontrager said the salary is a huge issue, especially for people coming out of college with tens of thousands of dollars in student loans.
"We really have fallen behind the times on what type of compensation packages we can give these young teachers," said Bontrager.
The superintendent added, "no one is ever going to get rich on education, however, kids need to get out of school with their degrees and feel like they can not only make a difference in the classroom in something they love to do but be financially sound."
The biggest shortage Bontrager sees is high school math and physics. Northwest often has to try to get teachers from neighboring districts rather than hire people just getting into teaching.
"We'll have to match or exceed the level of pay of where they're at to bring them to the school district," said Bontrager.
News 10 checked with some other local districts. Eaton Rapids it's having problems right now. However, the Lansing School District needs to fill as many as 25 teaching positions. Administrators are working on a new recruitment plan.
