Teachers will be in classes, CEO says

Lorain City Schools will start the 2019-20 school year with a full roster of teachers, according to the school district administration.

As July ended and August began, it appeared Lorain Schools had up to 49 unfilled slots for teachers and certificated staff, according to the district’s online job application information.

However, the number of job openings listed did not reflect the true number of open posts waiting for instructors before class begins Aug. 21, said CEO David Hardy Jr.

On Aug. 2, Lorain Schools published an explanation about how the district fills jobs and why the figure was misleading.

That day, Lorain Schools had six open spots, not 49, according to the district.

As of Aug. 1, teachers were hired or offered letters for all but six teaching positions, the district said. The remaining open positions are on track to be filled within the next two weeks, according to the district.

As of July 29, Lorain Schools received 238 applications from external candidates for posted teaching positions in 2019, the district said.

“Families deserve to feel confident that their child will have qualified adults leading their schools and teaching their classes every year,” said the statement from the district’s marketing and communications team.

How many openings?

On Aug. 1, it appeared Lorain City Schools had 49 certificated staff job openings.

They ranged from teacher - special education hearing impaired, at General Johnnie Wilson Middle School, to teacher - music (band), at Southview Middle School, according to Lorain Schools’ online job listings service.

By comparison on the same day, Elyria City Schools had openings for two elementary teachers, four middle school teachers and three teachers at Elyria High School.

Lakewood City Schools had one opening each at the elementary, middle and

high school levels.

Parma City Schools needed an elementary teacher, middle school teacher and two high school teachers.

Euclid City Schools had openings for one elementary teacher and two high school teachers.

Youngstown and East Cleveland school districts also are in the state’s academic distress rating.

Youngstown City School appeared to be most comparable in number.

That district had openings for 12 elementary teachers, 14 middle school teachers and 16 high school teachers.

East Cleveland City Schools had one elementary teacher opening and four high school teacher jobs.

The figures came from online postings available through the districts’ respective websites.

How to hire

“Summer hiring for teaching positions in Lorain City Schools is a complicated process due in part to the bargained staffing practice known as the ‘unassigned pool’ that has been

in place for many years,” the district explanation said. “Our partnership with the Lorain Education Association allows for this process to run as smooth and fair as possible, even though it takes some time to complete.”

At the end of the school year, teachers may be placed in the group known as the “unassigned pool.”

They are able to bid on open teaching spots before candidates from outside the district.

Once that round it is complete, the process repeats and continues through the summer.

At the end of each school year, teachers are either placed in or voluntarily give up their positions and place themselves in the “unassigned pool.”

Those individuals then are able to bid for any open teaching positions internally before any external candidates, according to the school district.

Job postings also are posted externally as a contingency in case an internal candidate does not bid for that position.

The district does not

close job postings in its online application system until a candidate has been placed officially, contracts have been approved and the administration determines they no longer need to collect applications, according to Lorain Schools’ explanation.

“Lorain Schools is constantly looking to build and strengthen our family with strong candidates who believe in the limitless potential of our scholars,” the district explanation said. “For that reason, we constantly have job postings up and running to potentially attract talented individuals to help us live up to the expectations outlined in the Lorain Promise.”

Learn more

All building administrator positions have been filled and an announcement detailing any leadership changes is forthcoming, according to Lorain Schools.

Anyone with questions can learn more at the Back to School Extravaganza planned noon to 3 p.m., Aug. 10, at Lorain High School, 2600 Ashland Ave.