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Board flags middle‑school staffing shortages, asks for budget estimate to subsidize alternative certification
Summary
Board members identified chronic middle‑school weaknesses, high substitute use and vacancies (one school reported 13 vacancies) and directed staff to include alternative‑certification costs in the budget workshop and explore offering financial support (testing/course fees) tied to a commitment to remain with the district.
Mercer County trustees spent significant time March 27 on middle‑school performance and staffing shortages, spotlighting heavy substitute use, long‑term vacancies and low proficiency in some schools.
One trustee summarized the staffing problem bluntly: "we've got 13 vacancies in 1 school," and participants linked weak middle‑school outcomes to frequent use of substitutes and difficulty recruiting certified teachers. Board members and staff noted the county runs an alternative‑certification program, but uptake has been limited (staff estimated roughly 15 completed alternate certifications to date). Trustees explored barriers, including upfront testing fees and course costs that can total several hundred dollars per candidate.
Multiple trustees proposed using the budget workshop to study whether the district can subsidize certification costs or testing for long‑term substitutes in high‑need schools, perhaps in exchange for an MOU requiring a period of service in the district. "Is there anything that would prevent us from saying... we will pay for the practice [tests]... provided you agree to stay in Mercer County for a while?" the Chair asked. Staff said they know of no statutory bar beyond budget constraints and recommended collecting cost ranges and surveying long‑term substitutes to gauge interest.
Board direction: staff to prepare cost estimates and an MOU template and place an alternative‑certification funding option on the upcoming budget workshop agenda. Trustees emphasized growing the district's own teacher pipeline while being mindful of constrained resources.
