Salinas Union High School District working to recruit and retain teachers

There is a shortage of teachers in California and a new bill that offers tax incentives to teachers has just cleared the Senate Finance Committee. But the Salinas Union High School District is not waiting around for that bill to be passed.

The District serves almost 15,000 students, and next year they’ll need to fill about 90 positions. Assistant Superintendent Randy bangs said they’re not only trying to recruit new teachers, but also retain the ones they have. One thing they’re doing is offering signing bonuses up to $11,000 dollars for teachers who qualify, however Superintendent Bangs says there are things specific to the area that make it hard sometimes to recruit qualified teachers.

“When we talk with teachers we hear that the cost of living is one of those elements. Hopefully some of the things we’re putting in place, the signing bonus and years of service, help with that to an extent,” said Randy Bangs.

On Saturday the district will hold a teacher recruitment fair at the District Office in Salinas. It begins at 9:00 a.m. and goes till 1:00 p.m. There will be representatives from each school site there.

*THE SALINAS UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICE IS LOCATED AT 431 WEST ALISAL STREET.