When the economy is good and there are many jobs available, attracting and retaining good teachers can be difficult. According to Kirk McRae, human resources director for the Cache County School District, that situation is prevalent right now in many places.
However, on KVNU’s For the People program Monday, June 19, McRae said the situation is not prevalent in local districts, and there are several significant reasons why. For example, he said it’s the quality of the people, the fact that there is a quality university so close and also that the Utah State Legislature has done what it can to come up with the money needed for salaries and operations.
“The school districts here in Cache Valley really do have an advantage,” McRae said, “but I see that over time, especially as other districts increase salaries and try to compete for those candidates, that we’re going to have to do the same to increase our salaries, our benefits, so that those advantages that we do have don’t get eroded over time.”
McRae said many Utah State University students who major in education hope to remain in this area after they complete their degrees.