Now Hiring: Manatee School District Looking For 85 Teachers

In need of a teaching position? The Manatee County School District has plans to hire 85 additional teachers for the 2013-2014 school year based on student growth established during the first week and a half of school.

The addition of 950 students will result in the hiring of 55 classroom teachers, while an additional 30 elementary school teachers are needed meet state Class-Size Amendment requirements.

Officials said the primary factor impacting projected growth in the school district is the expected influx of migrant students who often arrive in the school district after the school year starts.

In March, the district eliminated 182 teaching positions after if was discovered there was a $8.3 million dollar budget shortfall in 2012, which an audit revealed was brought on bad finance management. In August, 69 of those teachers were rehired because of projected enrollment increases.

The cost associated with hiring the 85 additional teachers is approximately $4.3 million, according to Mike Barber, district spokesperson. Barber said funding the positions will come from $2.1 million in increased FTE from the state, $1.2 million in additional Title I funding and $1 million, which was built into the 2013-2014 tentative budget to cover costs incurred with hiring additional instructional staff.

The additional staff salaries will be approved by the School Board of Manatee County as part of the final budget, which is scheduled to be voted on by the board during the public hearing on Sept. 9.