That's ok, soon schools won't be needed, internet learning is the new future. This way every kid will be on the same page for their achievement level. And only one teacher will be needed, the best teacher!!

Reminds me of the commercials run by unions whereby "experts" proclaim that a certain amount of billions "needs" to be spent to remedy our highways and roads, without specific attribution as to studies/assessments and where it is clearly in the interest of the commercial maker to high-ball the "estimates" of "needed" public expenditures. A comedian does the voiceover on some; sponsored by construction unions, naturally. So consider the source when there is a hue and cry for more pubic expenditures, even on schoolteachers. Likely there is PLENTY of money in the system, it is just mis-used.

Just because you want to have everything done through the internet, does not mean that everything SHOULD be done through the internet.

And if you don't believe me, look at the results that have come out from internet-only college classes. Can you say "fiasco"?

As a parent, it's really disheartening to get an email on the Friday before school starts that they are still hiring teachers at your child's school. To start on Monday. I don't have confidence that "the best and brightest" are out looking for jobs the week before school starts. It seemed like they were looking for a warm body with the proper credentials (or as this article implies, almost with the proper credentials).

The feedback I've heard from teachers is that being afraid to speak up in school board meetings about issues in the schools does not help. I can't put the blame on Steve Nelson for the entire teacher shortage problem, which is statewide, but I can put the blame on him for creating a hostile atmosphere and tarnishing the reputation of our district.

MVWSD has a lot of liabilities-- lower pay, frequent turnover at the Superintendent and Principal levels, high cost of living. But for those reasons, we need to make extra sure that the people at the top are supportive and open and basically being reasonable human beings. Having a "leader" like Nelson around and visibly causing all manner of problems sure doesn't help.

Give teachers the pay to afford the area and treat them as you would any other professional OR give them reasonable housing vouchers (for rent or mortgage - their choice) that can be market-rate adjusted so they can have the dignity to live wherever they choose.

Don't be silly and try to trap teachers in some strange, inflexible teacher rental projects. This has been tried in the past and I think Cupertino is trying it now. Does the district really want to be involved in promoting/managing housing? I don't think so.

Anyway, if you are trying to make a profession a desirable one (or at least an affordable one), don't institutionalize more pity around it... there's plenty to pity about teachers already.

And stop grousing and whining about the cost of teachers without realistically considering what it costs to live in the area and what it really costs/will cost to attract AND keep people and then put REAL energy to offer that. People who are honest with themselves know that rents are going up more than 4% per year (many estimates place increases at three times that!). Most MVWSD elementary students can figure out that 4% < 12%; why can't adults?

Mountain View is already behind other districts in addressing teacher attraction/retention and will be losing more teachers very soon. If the D/O, Board, AND the City Council can't come up with some real solutions and backbone to support those SOON this district will be taking a nose dive right as students and teachers are trying to adapt to Common Core - a real reason for parents to exit MVWSD take their kids elsewhere.

This falls right into the hands of the "market forcers" on the Voice boards. For those people still stuck on thinking of themselves and their neighbors as market functions instead of humans that are a part of a community:
One market-based alternative is to reduce demand for teachers by driving even more parents away from the district, shrinking the student population and lowering home values.

The Huff's 4th grade teacher that "quit unexpectedly" actually left the school for a better job at the district. The district, the principal, and the teacher involved are to blame for the uncertainty that that forth grade class has had to endure the last five weeks. That 4th grade teacher asked to loop from 3rd grade to this year's 4th grade. Various teachers had to move to other grades to accommodate her request. Then she quits for a better job within the district and the district allowed it. Does the principal actually think that the parents believe her when she says, "it hasn't been a problem for the school"? If so, then she's really out of touch.

There's a difference between dealing with a problem that's out of your control, and one in which you've created. People will understand and forgive the former, but not the latter.

Its a Sellers market for teachers. Good for them!

Teachers and prospective teachers are aware of the environment. They look at MVWSD and see:

- Steve Nelson
- A parcel tax that is crucial to fund current levels of funding at risk of not being renewed
- Steve Nelson
- Better pay in adjacent districts
- Steve Nelson

What would any rational employee with in-demand services do? They look elsewhere

Rather than giving a sales tax increase to the VTA, why not send it to the teachers? They should all be making 6-figures to start.

IMVWSD is a mess from top to bottom. Kids shuffled away from there neighborhood schools, segregated schools with a lottery system. Board meeting headed by a member that can't spell board members name.
Spending kids money foolishly on useless research. My all time favorite COMMON CORE.
If kids are leaving why not educators.
When is enough, enough with this district.

With all the problems this district self inflects soon we will hearing,"District hires consulting firm on how to fix problems"