Plenty of Kansas school districts are in need of qualified substitute teachers.
We’re getting a bit desperate.
The State Board of Education had already sought in January to help struggling Kansas school districts staff up by allowing anyone over 18 and with a high school diploma to apply for a temporary emergency substitute license, valid for this school year only.
We gritted our teeth but accepted it as necessary.
Retired teachers are the ideal substitutes. They’ve been in the classrooms, they know what to expect — and what’s expected of them — and they know how to reach students.
Yet, there’s an obstacle keeping many retirees from returning to the classroom. Under state law, school retirees who receive benefits from the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System may generally return to work in schools, but a few provisions in state law make it harder for them to do so, KPERS director Alan Conroy told the board.
Two different waiting periods keep retired school employees from immediately starting in positions, even if only working as substitutes. Those who retire after age 62 have to wait 60 days before being able to work in a KPERS-affiliated employer, while others who retire before 62 have to wait 180 days.
As a result, retired teachers can’t just hop back into a classroom easily if a need arises. And often these needs can’t be predicted.
IF A KINDERGARTEN teacher in rural Kansas were to have a medical emergency keeping them out of the classroom, wouldn’t you rather bring in an experienced teacher who knows the area and the students? What about a shop teacher? Or middle school math teacher?
Bringing retirees back just makes sense. We should make it as easy as possible for them.
Several other obstacles are keeping veterans out of classrooms, but unfortunately the state board doesn’t have the authority to override them. Only the Kansas Legislature can.
We believe the Kansas Legislature needs to address these obstacles to putting qualified teachers in the classrooms.
Let’s not lower our standards. Let’s fix the obstacles keeping our standard-bearers out of our classrooms.
We owe it to our children. We owe it to our state.
