Waverly among many Nebraska school districts struggling to fill jobs

WAVERLY, Neb. (KLKN) — Waverly Public Schools is struggling to fill open positions, like many other districts in the state.

More than 900 positions were vacant in Nebraska schools this past school year, according to the Nebraska Department of Education.

Waverly Superintendent Corey Worrell said principals are spending more time than they used to trying to fill open positions. He said they are constantly calling candidates and soon-to-be college graduates.

Worrell said that in the best-case scenario, the district gets around 30 applications for an opening. He said in the past, that number was around 70.

But in some subject areas, the shortage is much worse.

“The sciences, math, those have been challenges to find in our district,” Worrell said. “We might have three or four people apply.”

Now the district is looking at different solutions to not only hire but also to retain teachers.

Worrell said Waverly is looking at ways to support employees and help them succeed.

He said it’s even more challenging to fill non-teaching positions like bus drivers and paraeducators.

“The last few years, we have not been able to fulfill all of those positions in our district,” he said.

Worrell worries that if this continues, students will suffer.

“If we can’t fill certain positions, there will be programs and class offerings that would not be available in the future,” he said.