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Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD Marie Mew had both good news and bad news last Wednesday at the recruiting session sponsored by the Springfield School Department. Mew was told by one of the people interviewing applicants for teaching positions that based on her qualifications that included being fully licensed and holding a masters degree that she was "very qualified" for a teaching position. She would probably receive a starting salary of $42,000 if hired. The bad news is that Mew is a five-year veteran of the school system and a member of the faculty at Central High School. Her current pay is $34,000. Mew was one of the approximately 40 teachers who were protesting outside of the Meline Kasparian Professional Development Center on Wednesday afternoon. She went through the interview process to see how someone with her background would be treated. Mew said that hiring new teachers at greater pay rates when current teachers are still without a contract is "unethical." "I don't want to put anyone on the spot, but please could someone open their mouths for us," she asked. Under the watchful eyes of Springfield Police, the protesting teachers held signs that read "Recruit Me." Jennifer Stogner, the vice president of the Springfield Education Association and a 10 year teacher in the system, emphasized the protesters were not trying to prevent anyone from being hired nor were they opposed to qualified teachers being paid what they are worth. She maintained that many of the people applying for the open positions did not have the qualifications required by the Commonwealth and would be hired on waivers. The waivers require the new teachers to become certified within five years. Mary Chamberlain, a member of the SEA executive board and a retired teacher, said that many current special education teachers, who are in demand by the system, were hired on waivers. "The neediest kids get the least qualified teachers," she charged. Inside the building, about 100 people were visiting tables with displays and speaking with members of various academic programs and departments. A long line of people waited to be interviewed. According to Diane Panico, of the Department's Human Resources staff, 500 information packets were made up for the candidates attending the recruitment event and by 4 p.m. there were only about 50 packets left. Panico said the goal of the recruiting effort was to be prepared to fill the approximately 300 vacancies that the Department anticipated. She said that a turnover of 300 jobs was a normal number and could be attributed to retirements, approved leaves of absence and some resignations. Panico said she was "thrilled" by the response to the event and said that many of the applicants were certified. The system was particularly interested in finding new science, math and special needs teachers, she added. This was the first time the School Department had conducted such an event and Panico said there is a possibility of a second recruitment day in July. She said the goal of the event was "to get highly qualified teachers in front of students." She added that she hopes that once the contract talks are settled that "veteran teaches get a fair salary." | ||||||
