School Board Proposes Tuition Reimbursement to Combat Teacher Shortage
September 09, 2024 | Cornwall-Lebanon SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
In a recent government meeting, significant discussions centered around the approval of a new lead instructor for the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program and a proposed tuition reimbursement initiative aimed at addressing the teacher shortage in Pennsylvania.
Dr. Bosman announced the appointment of Steven Zimmerman as the lead instructor for the EMT program for the current school year, following a three-year agreement approved in August. This decision is part of ongoing efforts to enhance educational programs and ensure quality instruction.
The meeting also highlighted a proposal for a classified employee tuition reimbursement program, designed to attract and retain staff in K-12 education. This initiative would provide financial support for classified employees working at least 30 hours a week, covering certification programs in education. Employees would be required to commit to one year of service following reimbursement to avoid repayment.
The proposal comes in response to a growing teacher shortage in Pennsylvania, where a report indicated that more teachers were working under emergency permits than there were newly certified teachers. Dr. Bosman noted that in the 2020-21 school year, approximately 6,000 positions were filled by emergency permit teachers, a significant increase from nearly 1,000 in the 2011-12 school year. The initiative aims to create a pathway for classified staff to gain certification and fill critical teaching roles.
The board is expected to vote on allocating $30,000 for this pilot program, which would serve as a starting point to gauge interest and refine the initiative based on feedback from staff. The program's structure will be closely aligned with existing collective bargaining agreements, ensuring consistency across employee groups.
Dr. Bosman emphasized the importance of developing internal talent to address staffing challenges, particularly in hard-to-fill areas such as special education. The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for such programs to support staff development while addressing the ongoing teacher shortage. The board will review the proposal in the upcoming meeting, with hopes of launching the program in the fall.
Dr. Bosman announced the appointment of Steven Zimmerman as the lead instructor for the EMT program for the current school year, following a three-year agreement approved in August. This decision is part of ongoing efforts to enhance educational programs and ensure quality instruction.
The meeting also highlighted a proposal for a classified employee tuition reimbursement program, designed to attract and retain staff in K-12 education. This initiative would provide financial support for classified employees working at least 30 hours a week, covering certification programs in education. Employees would be required to commit to one year of service following reimbursement to avoid repayment.
The proposal comes in response to a growing teacher shortage in Pennsylvania, where a report indicated that more teachers were working under emergency permits than there were newly certified teachers. Dr. Bosman noted that in the 2020-21 school year, approximately 6,000 positions were filled by emergency permit teachers, a significant increase from nearly 1,000 in the 2011-12 school year. The initiative aims to create a pathway for classified staff to gain certification and fill critical teaching roles.
The board is expected to vote on allocating $30,000 for this pilot program, which would serve as a starting point to gauge interest and refine the initiative based on feedback from staff. The program's structure will be closely aligned with existing collective bargaining agreements, ensuring consistency across employee groups.
Dr. Bosman emphasized the importance of developing internal talent to address staffing challenges, particularly in hard-to-fill areas such as special education. The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for such programs to support staff development while addressing the ongoing teacher shortage. The board will review the proposal in the upcoming meeting, with hopes of launching the program in the fall.
View the Full Meeting & All Its Details
This article offers just a summary. Unlock complete video, transcripts, and insights as a Founder Member.
✓
Watch full, unedited meeting videos
✓
Search every word spoken in unlimited transcripts
✓
AI summaries & real-time alerts (all government levels)
✓
Permanent access to expanding government content
30-day money-back guarantee
