Desperate teachers are lobbying the government to offer financial incentives to attract teachers to Griffith, as schools struggle to fill job vacancies.
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Griffith Teachers Association president Melina Ragusa lay out the extent of the problem in a strongly-worded letter to minister for education Sarah Mitchell.
Ms Ragusa said one school offered the role of visual arts teacher to 47 people, only to be turned down 47 times.
Meanwhile Murrumbidgee Regional High School offered three permanent positions to every Targeted Graduate Teacher in the state, and not one of them took up the offer.
In 2018 MRHS offered a $117,000 per annum job to anyone willing to work as special education head teacher, but not a single person applied.
"What teacher in their right mind would agree to an appointment in Griffith when there is so much more on offer nearby?" Ms Ragusa said.
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Member for Murray Helen Dalton also spoke with the education minister to demand Griffith be changed to a four-point area.
Ms Mitchell made no promises, but said she would take the comments on board from Mrs Dalton and the teachers association.
"As Minister, I am more than willing to listen to concerns the Local Member, or any teacher or community member, has in regards to Murrumbidgee Regional High School," she said.
"My door is always open to those who have concerns, and I will not back away from any discussion in relation to the best opportunities for students in NSW."
She pointed out seven new teachers have been employed for Term 2, specialising in Science, PD/Health/PE, English, Maths, HSIE, Special Education and Learning Support at MRHS.
There are still two full-time vacancies and some smaller roles left unfilled, but it's a significant improvement from the beginning of Term 1 which had 10 unfilled roles.
"Given the school only opened in Term 1, 2019, I stand by my comments that there will always be teething issues when undertaking significant projects like this," Ms Mitchell said.
"Attracting and retaining top-quality teachers is not an issue exclusive to Murrumbidgee High School; it is experienced right across regional NSW."
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Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
