Thursday, August 4, 2022
Volume 13, Number 31
cheshirecitizen.com
FIELD OF DREAMS
Area superintendents discuss teacher shortage By Jessica Simms Record-Journal staff
teachers along with specialists and psychologists.
Nationwide, public schools have struggled to retain and hire new teachers, creating a staffing shortage.
“Where we struggle is the areas where there are limited teachers certified for that specific content area,” said Jeffrey Solan, Cheshire schools’ superintendent. “So for example, if we were trying to hire somebody for a Latin opening, the numbers just aren’t there for that.”
The National Center for Education Statistics reported in March that 44% of public schools were seeing higher than normal full or parttime teaching vacancies, with 61% of school districts attributing the staffing shortage to the pandemic. The U.S. Department of Education reported that public schools in Connecticut are struggling the most in finding world language
Solan said the district does well filling positions such as for elementary school teachers where there are more qualified candidates. When it comes to more specialized positions, See Teachers, A2
Bob Stefanowski goes after Ned Lamont on prison conditions Cheshire’s Michael Sansone, who enjoyed a stellar pitching career at Notre Dame-West Haven and at Fairfield University, signed a Major League Baseball contract with the Tampa Bay Rays on July 25. While Sansone didn't hear his name called during the MLB Draft, which took place July 17 to 19, soon after, Tampa Bay offered the lefty the chance to sign as a free agent. Sansone told the RecordJournal that playing professional baseball has been a lifelong dream. “As long as I could hold a baseball, my dad had me throwing,” he said. “I love the game. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. You fall in love with it and that passion keeps growing over the years.” Submitted photo
By Mark Pazniokas The Connecticut Mirror
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski campaigned outside a highsecurity prison in Cheshire on Thursday, July 28, complaining that the administration of Gov. Ned Lamont has failed to heed complaints of staff and inmates about staffing levels and unreliable air conditioning.
Phase 2 ening O“Ipdon’t this afternoon Gov. Lan know why Soocouldn’t mont go to Home Depot and buy
there. That’s what I do,” Stefanowski said. “If I were governor, I’d hop in my black SUV, or, better yet, I’d hop in my pickup truck.” Echoing complaints of the union that represents correction officers, Stefanowski said staffing shortages require mandatory overtime in poor conditions and that new minimum standards for time outside cells are endangering staff and contributing to an increase in inmate fights and assaults on officers.
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