Lawmakers are taking another swing at the teacher shortage in Illinois.
A bill that got a lot of attention last year sets out, eventually, a $40,000 minimum salary. The ideas brought up at a Capitol news conference Thursday address solutions best described as short-term, such as allowing a retiree to be a substitute teacher more days without threatening their pensions.
“I think this is part of a broader discussion,” said State Sen. Rob Martwick (D-Chicago). “It is about that overall picture; developing that pipeline, getting people interested in the profession, and insuring – really insuring – that they are compensated properly, that their retirement packages are something that makes people want to be in the profession. We have to acknowledge that, and I think that’s going to take a longer look.”
Courtney Goss (pictured), a former teacher who is part of a behavioral support team in Springfield Public Schools, says the number of teachers is only part of the problem. Goss, who is Black, said there are not enough minority teachers.