Hinsdale D-86 Unaffected By State's Teacher Shortage

HINSDALE, IL — Illinois faces a shortage of teachers and other academic professionals, but Hinsdale High School District 86 says it is unaffected.

CBS Chicago reports that since last fall, the number of open positions in Illinois schools has increased by 28 percent, with 5,301 open positions.

According to a 2021 study by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents, 88 percent of school districts said they had teacher shortages, with 77 percent of districts reporting the problem getting worse.

In April, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed bills aimed at addressing the shortages. They included lowering the teacher license renewal fee from $500 to $50, no longer requiring substitute teachers to have bachelor’s degrees and lowering the minimum age for teacher's aides from 19 to 18.

However, despite not being impacted, District 86 held a job fair last week for those interested in becoming teacher's aides, substitute teachers, and buildings and grounds employees.

According to District 86’s job openings website, the district is seeking six teacher's aides, two buildings and grounds employees, and three teachers, including one substitute.

The first day of class is Sept. 6.