Columbia Schools See Improvement in Teacher Staffing, But Some Vacancies Remain
Columbia, SC—As students shuffle back into classrooms this fall, Columbia school districts are breathing a little easier with significantly lower teacher vacancy rates compared to previous years. It’s great news for parents and students, but there are still a few gaps that need filling before the school year fully hits its stride.
Richland One, one of the largest districts in the region, managed to cut its vacancies down to **55** from a staggering **177** last year. That’s quite the turnaround! Meanwhile, neighboring Richland Two, which has long been an educational hub, is down to **40** vacancies from about **70** the previous year.
Over in Lexington, the situation is similar. Lexington Two has only **six** open positions, a sharp decline from the **27** vacancies they had last year. Lexington One has about **six** as well, a decrease from **33**. Even the Irmo and Chapin districts managed to lower their postings from **27** to around **eight**. Impressive, right?
What’s Behind the Positive Trend?
This remarkable improvement can largely be attributed to salary raises that have been implemented over the past few years. The state Legislature, along with local district leaders, has been hard at work to entice new teachers into the profession and keep the ones we already have. Richland Two’s Superintendent, Kim Moore, noted during a school board meeting that these competitive salary schedules have made a significant difference. “We have been able to not only retain our teachers, but also recruit new teachers,” she stated confidently.
The minimum salary for teachers in South Carolina has seen a notable increase of **$12,000** since the **2019-20 school year**, currently standing at **$47,000**. In fact, several local districts are paying even more, with some new teachers earning **$50,000** just for holding a bachelor’s degree. That’s a great carrot to dangle in front of prospective educators!
A Mixed Bag
However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. While the Columbia area has made strides in lowering teacher vacancies, some challenges still loom. There are reports that some students have started the school year without a dedicated teacher in their classrooms. For example, at A.C. Flora High School, parent Jenna Bridgers expressed her frustration that her two sons began the school year without a math teacher for their classes. Thankfully, the staffing situation got sorted out fairly quickly, but it’s concerning that any student starts the school year this way. “It’s unacceptable that kids are starting school without a teacher in the classroom,” she commented.
To fill some of those lingering vacancies, districts have begun exploring alternative solutions. For instance, the Richland One school board recently approved a budget of about **$943,000** for virtual teachers to step in as needed through a Chicago-based education company. It’s a tech-savvy solution, but not the same as having a teacher right there in the room.
The Road Ahead
Despite the progress made, the overall picture for teacher staffing across South Carolina remains somewhat cloudy. Not all districts have the financial flexibility to offer salaries that surpass the state minimum, especially in more rural areas. After years of rising vacancy numbers, the state is still grappling with a combination of student mental health issues, dwindling enrollments in teacher education programs, and the often intense political climate surrounding education.
School districts are trying to ease the path for new teachers through alternate certification options, though experts, like former University of South Carolina education professor Barnett Berry, have cautioned that some of these teachers may not be fully prepared to step into classrooms.
As the school year unfolds, all eyes will be on how these vacancy rates fluctuate. For now, Columbia’s progress shows promise. Parents and students are hopeful that as schools continue to adapt and improve, the quality of education will remain a top priority.
