“If we filled those, we would still have a backfill of custodial positions and child nutrition positions, bus drivers, it’s across the system,” said Anoka-Hennepin Superintendent David Law.
But, finding applicants for all these positions has become a serious challenge.
“There would be a time where we’d post an elementary job, and that elementary job might get fifty applicants as a long-term sub,” said Law. “This year, we’ll post a job like that and we might not get any applicants, because all of those typical applicants are hired – they’re not long-term subbing waiting to get hired.”
The district is seeing reduced interest from retired teachers to come back and substitute teach in classrooms this year. Superintendent Law thinks that’s due to two reasons. The first is the pandemic.
“We haven’t had a week when we haven’t had 100 students across the system test positive. COVID is present in students in our system,” said Law.
And the second reason is changing technology.
“Our retired teachers don’t’ step in with the skill set.”
With jobs unfilled, and without an adequate pool of substitutes, classroom teachers are bearing the burden.
“What we’re getting is overstretching our current employees, and not providing students with someone who is dedicated to their lessons for the day. People are running from another classroom to fill in.”
To give teachers a little time back, the district has added two days to winter break: Dec. 22 and Jan. 3, with the January date specifically for teacher prep time. And, Superintendent Law says that additional calendar changes could be on the way.
“Our goal is to be creative. We’re looking at next year’s calendar already. We might make minimal changes – maybe a day a month – not every month for the rest of this year. But we’re looking at next year – how do we build in more planning time, so it’s not disruptive to families and students, knowing that this might be our new norm.
The district has a hiring fair planned for Dec. 15. Same day interviews will be available for jobs in the district’s before and after school program called Adventures Plus, jobs in food service, as well as positions as custodians or paras. That job fair will be at the Educational Service Center in Anoka from 2 to 6pm.
