Governor Newsom signs executive order making it easier to hire teachers amid shortages

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER | Related press

LOS ANGELES – California is making it easier for school districts to hire teachers and other staff amid a staffing shortage caused by the latest spike in coronavirus cases, the governor said Tuesday.

Governor Gavin Newsom said he signed an executive order that gives schools more flexibility in staffing decisions such as setting aside extra hours for substitute teachers and hiring those who have recently retired for short periods of time. . The order will expire at the end of March.

“These are short-term challenges that require short-term and targeted solutions,” said Newsom, a Democrat.

The rapidly spreading omicron variant of COVID-19 is causing school staff across the state to skip a week after 6 million K-12 students returned to classrooms after winter break.

Newsom said he hopes to expedite the often time-consuming hiring process and allow school districts to “keep our kids safe in person for the rest of the year and get through this from three for the next six weeks.”

The California Teachers Association, which represents about 300,000 educators statewide, said it recognizes the need for flexible hiring and called on school districts to “focus on substitute teachers, recent retirees and student teachers.”

Association spokeswoman Lisa Gardiner said in a statement on Tuesday.

Newsom also said the state is working to make more COVID-19 tests available to schools. Last week Newsom and state officials faced criticism for failing to deliver on a promise to provide rapid, at-home tests for all California students and school staff before classes begin. School reopens after the break.

Millions of test kits were sent to homes but millions more were not, and there were long lines at testing sites.

Newsom announced the executive order during a stop Tuesday at a medical clinic in Kern County, where he highlighted a proposal to expand health care to all Californians, regardless of immigration status.