Metro East Sun

Republican state Rep. Avery Bourne is still looking for answers about a bill that seeks address the Illinois' growing teacher shortage through reimbursement grants.

House Bill 4139 would provide reimbursement for those who go into the teaching profession for their college expenses. It passed 8-0 through the committee and was placed on the House calendar for debate.

Speaking during a recent House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools committee hearing, Bourne questioned Rep. Sue Scherer, one of the sponsors of whether its reimbursements extend to community colleges. 

Saying yes, Scherer added that she is open to adding an amendment to the legislation in order to “clarify some of this."

The Illinois Association of Regional School Superintendents recently surveyed upwards of 600 school districts, finding that 88% of them reported experiencing a teacher shortage.

“The teacher shortage started as a cause for concern and has only grown,” Peoria County Regional Superintendent Beth Crider told TheWeek.com. In addition, 96% of districts likewise had problems getting substitutes, with Peoria County standing among the districts being most heavily impacted.

“In West-Central Illinois, Peoria County has a lot of positions where there weren’t as many applicants as we’re used to seeing,” Crider added. “In some of our West-Central Illinois Peoria counties, they have positions that no one has applied to for years.”

While Crider said she’s convinced most teachers are making the decision to walk away from the profession for a multitude of reasons, she added, “It has become harder and harder with increased mandates and nothing being taken off the plate of the teacher workload.”