Skip to content
NOWCAST WGAL News 8 at 5:00
Live Now
Advertisement

Shortage of teachers in Harrisburg leading to big changes

Shortage of teachers in Harrisburg leading to big changes
SO, AMBER, TELL US ABOUT THAT. WELL, FOR STARTERS, IT MEANS LESS TIME IN THE CLASSROOM AND LESS TIME IN THE CAFETERIA. AND FOR PARENTS THAT DEPEND ON AFTER SCHOOL CARE. THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS. HARRISBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT ERIC TURMAN SAYS THE LACK OF CERTIFIED TEACHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS UNPRECEDENTED. IN FACT, HE SAYS, WE’VE GONE FROM 20,000 CERTIFIED TEACHERS IN TEN YEARS TO 8000. THAT’S 12,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BE CERTIFIED IN THE AREA TO INSTRUCT AND TEACH. AND HARRISBURG MIDDLE SCHOOL, ROLAND ACADEMY IS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS. RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE 18 CORE TEACHING POSITIONS TO BE FILLED. IT’S NOT SOMETHING WHERE ANY OF US HAVE THE EXPERIENCE IS EVER UNTIL THESE POSITIONS ARE FILLED, ADJUSTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE. LUNCH TIME HAS BEEN REDUCED TO 10 MINUTES. STUDENTS WILL GRAB THEIR LUNCHES FROM THE CAFETERIA, THEN HEAD TO THEIR NEXT CLASS TO FINISH. THIS IS NOT IDEAL, BUT THIS IS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO SERVICE STUDENTS. AND ALTHOUGH THE SCHOOL DAY WON’T BE ANY SHORTER, STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO COMPLETE THEIR LAST CLASS AT HOME. WE HAVE A 45 MINUTE WINDOW. AND THAT CLASS WILL BE CONDUCTED ON LINE. BUT IN ORDER FOR KIDS TO MAKE IT HOME IN TIME, THEY WANT TO TAKE THE BUS HOME OR GET PICKED UP AT 230. INSTEAD OF 330. THAT’S ANOTHE
Advertisement
Shortage of teachers in Harrisburg leading to big changes
A shortage of teachers in the Harrisburg School District has resulted in significant changes as kids return to school this fall. One middle school in particular is making some pretty big changes to its schedule. News 8's Amber Gerard was in Harrisburg with what parents and students can expect this September. You can watch that story above.

A shortage of teachers in the Harrisburg School District has resulted in significant changes as kids return to school this fall. One middle school in particular is making some pretty big changes to its schedule. News 8's Amber Gerard was in Harrisburg with what parents and students can expect this September. You can watch that story above.

Advertisement