High cost of housing causing hiring challenge for local school districts

At the beginning of the year the Salinas Union High School District hired 58 teachers. Officials said they have nearly 30 more positions to fill.

“I came to see and talk to the principles,” said Liliana Juarez, who is looking for a school counseling job. “To see if there were any open positions and opportunities for me to start my career.”

At the teacher recruitment fair, the Salinas Union High School District is primarily looking to fill special education, mathematics, science and English learner development positions.

“We’re looking for teachers that have energy and a passion to work with our students,” said SUHSD Assistant Superintendent Randy Bangs. “Willing to spend time in that endeavor.”

District officials said they have vacancies because teachers are retiring, taking on new positions or moving to places where the cost of living is much cheaper.

“In some cases you might have found folks that found this community to be affordable as a single person or as a couple,” said Bangs. “But now they’re looking to increase the size of their housing, so it may be that they move on.”

Some districts are even considering building employee housing for teachers in areas where rent is high and educators struggle to live on their salary.

“The cost of living is a huge issue in this entire region,” said candidate Drew O’wren.

“I think as teachers we do it more because we love it than the money, but it is a struggle,” said Juarez.

SUHSD said while they do not have any formal plans underway to build homes for teachers, but they are offering a sign on bonus of up to $11,000 to be more competitive.

“We also provide 15 years of service, meaning that I may be a teacher in another district that’s taught for 10 years and so when they come here they’d be able to start on the 11th step on the salary schedule, so they don’t have to start over,” said Bangs.

The district is also in need of part and full time substitute teachers.