Posted at 12:19 p.m., Friday, January 21, 2005
More resources sought to attract teachers
Advertiser Staff
State Schools Superintendent Pat Hamamoto asked lawmakers today for more resources to recruit and retain public school teachers to help ease the state's teacher shortage.The state Department of Education hired 1,421 new teachers this school year but were still short of the numbers needed, forcing the department to use substitute teachers and make emergency hires.
Hamamoto said she wants to make Hawai'i's relocation and signing bonuses more competitive with other states to lure new teachers from the Mainland. Educators are also working on mentoring and guidance programs to retain teachers once they arrive.
State Sen. Norman Sakamoto, D-15th (Waimalu, Airport, Salt Lake), the chairman of the Senate Education and Military Affairs Committee, said he would consider giving teachers some type of housing credit as an incentive.
