JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – School officials in Jefferson County, Missouri, said they were forced to get creative to address staffing shortages in the Northwest School District.
The district held a job fair to fill positions ranging from kitchen staff to maintenance, according to Fox 2. Approximately 25 students applied for nine open positions in the district.
Students who are hired will work up to 19 hours a week, and will earn between $9.75 and $14.68 an hour, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Northwest School District spokesperson Chuck McPherson told the Post-Dispatch that many of the district’s students already hold part-time jobs outside of school.
School staffing shortages are a national issue. An October survey by EdWeek found that 40% of school district leaders and principals said they had “severe” or “very severe” staff shortages.
