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PSS: No teacher shortage this time
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Posted on Jul 09 1999
There will be enough teachers in public schools when classes open this August, a Public School System official said yesterday.
“We have fulfilled our recruitment needs by 80 to 85 percent. The remaining 15 to 20 percent vacancies will be filled before schools open,” said Charlie Kenty, head of the PSS Human Resource Office.
Kenty said 102 applicants have responded to the two-day job fair held by PSS last month.
PSS will fill up 59 positions vacated by teachers who either retired or resigned last December and those who left their posts this summer.
PSS has 70 vacant positions, but Education Commissioner Rita Inos earlier said the agency would only hire a number that PSS could afford to pay.
Inos said the agency’s concern right now is to meet an acceptable teacher-student ratio.
Kenty said PSS managed to fill some of the vacant positions through staff realignment.
Last January, for example, PSS pulled out some employees from the central office and assigned them to different classrooms.
To resolve the problem of inadequate funds for personnel and prevent the dismissal of classroom teachers, PSS did not renew the contracts of non-certified employees, whose employment terms expired last May.
“School principals have started reviewing applications and interviewing applicants. The actual hiring will come in the form of contracts,” Kenty said.
“We had a variety of applicants such as retired teachers and new teachers,” Kenty added.
As for the qualification, Kenty said it would be based on the criteria and standards established by the Board of Education, and the applicants will be hired based on the principals’ recommendations.
Eligible applicants who will not be hired will, however, be kept in the eligibility list from which PSS can choose for future hiring need.
