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School Cuts Cause Concern Among Student Teachers

By: Jeff Stensland

Layoffs Concern Student Teachers

CARBONDALE -- The next generation of teachers are having a difficult time finding the jobs they want because of the cuts across Illinois. It has some student teachers really thinking twice about their career path.

Amanda Reiff knew she wanted to be a teacher in first grade. Now, the Murphysboro native is student teaching first graders at Parrish School in Carbondale.

"I've always loved coming to school; I've always loved reading and things like that," Reiff said. "It just so happens that I am student teaching in a first grade classroom, and that was one of my most memorable experiences."

Reiff graduates from SIU in May. She is worried that layoffs at school districts across southern Illinois will mean fewer opportunities for her near home.

"It's very overwhelming," Reiff said. "I think as someone that is entering the job field, you just have to be really positive."

Reiff says there are jobs out there; you just have to find them. Dr. Jan Waggoner is handing out that same advice to her students at SIU. Waggoner is Director of Teacher Education at the university, and says this year is unlike any other in her career.

"In the early 1970s, we had a time when it was very difficult to find jobs," she said. "I don't know, across the state, if it has been this bad in my years in education."

Waggoner says upcoming graduates need to be ready to move. Cities like Memphis, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Las Vegas have room for new hires. She also encourages student teachers to network with fellow Salukis, and make their resumes stand out from others.

"Some of them will add endorsements to teaching certificate to make them more marketable," Waggoner said. "The more marketable they are, the better chance they have to find jobs."

Reiff says she is ready to be the teacher instead of the student. She is dedicated to finding a job, even if it means living hundreds of miles from home.

"I think there's a lot more options," Reiff said. "There's not just the option of, you're going to go out and apply for jobs and you are automatically going to get hired. Everyone is just looking to those other options now."

Reiff says her parents support her career path, wherever it leads. She says some districts in southern Illinois are hiring. She plans to teach first grade full-time.

Murphysboro Dismisses Nine Teachers For 2010-2011 School Year

MURPHYSBORO -- The Murphysboro School Board decided late Tuesday night to cut nine teachers for the 2010-2011 school year. They include five full-time and four part-time probationary teachers.

Most of the cuts are at the high school. As part of the restructuring, two teachers will be moving from the high school to the middle school. They include an academic coordinator, who will teach social studies and language arts at the middle school, and a math teacher, who will teach math and science at the middle school.

The Murphysboro CUSD #186 Board of Education also accepted a decision from Tri-County Special Education Cooperative to not re-employ first, second, third and fourth year non-tenured teachers, and the honorable discharge of social workers at Tri-County. The cuts, along with other changes the district has recently made, will save roughly $500,000 in annual expenses.

Superintendent Chris Grode says the cuts are difficult, but it is the only way the district can prepare for even less funding from the state of Illinois next school year. Currently, he says, the state owes Murphysboro CUSD #186 more than $1 million for the 2009-2010 school year. Grode says, in addition to the money owed, the state is expected to cut funding by $1.5 million next school year. Grode says 11 teachers are scheduled to retire at the end of the 2010-2011 school year, which will help make up the difference.

Hamilton Co. Cuts 37 Positions

HAMILTON CO. -- The Hamilton County School Board laid off 11 non-tenured teachers, 14 teachers' aids and 12 other staff members Tuesday evening.

Superintendent Vince Mitchell says some of those workers will likely be hired back eventually. Still, he says, under the Governor's budget proposal, his district stands to lose $1 million in funding next fiscal year.

Marion Unit 2 Foregoes Layoffs For Now

MARION -- The Marion CUSD #2 School Board considered laying off teachers and staff to balance out next year's books. But after a heated discussion, School Board President Todd Goodman says the board decided not to reduce staff at this time.

Goodman says there are teachers retiring, who may not be replaced.