Columbia County figures on needing more teachers

It is definite that Columbia County will need more teachers, school officials say. What is uncertain is how many.

In two mass interviews in February and March, principals and assistant principals will interview more than 260 teacher applicants to fill about 170 positions, said Connie Davis, the school system's human resources director.

A plan by Gov. Sonny Perdue to reduce class sizes for kindergarten through eighth grade next school year, however, might mean that there will be even more teaching positions to fill.

"The kindergarten numbers alone would require at least 16 additional teachers systemwide," Ms. Davis said. "That's just one grade level. We'll be talking in the neighborhood of 70 extra (teaching positions), probably."

At today's school board meeting in Appling, school Superintendent Tommy Price will present his estimate of needed teaching positions if the state Legislature approves the governor's proposal, according to the agenda for the 6 p.m. meeting.

"It's going to really impact us tremendously with space and just being able to identify that additional number of people," Ms. Davis said. "But we'll be ready."

During the interviews, Ms. Davis said, administrators will identify teachers for the added positions that Mr. Perdue's proposal might create.

"We won't then have to turn around and say, 'Well, we have to go hire 30 more teachers,'" she said. "We'll be ready, know we have the positions and then offer those spots."

Ms. Davis had no estimate on the additional cost, but the average annual salary of a teacher in Columbia County is about $50,000.

Other positions that school officials will focus on include speech pathologists, special-needs educators and high school math and science teachers, Ms. Davis said.

Even without the governor's proposal, fast-growing school systems such as Columbia County's typically need more elementary and middle school teachers each year, Ms. Davis said.

"We're looking to fill all areas," she said. "Certainly, we need a lot of early childhood and a lot of middle grades in all the content areas."

Reach Donnie Fetter at 868-1222, ext. 113, or donnie.fetter@augustachronicle.com.