And that makes an already hard sell that much more difficult. If those lines are long, some drift over to the other tables to see what is being offered. You try to pull them in and sell them. Some just walk away. That reaction is a tough one to take.
Money attracts people . . .
Besides higher salaries, some districts offer signing bonuses or pay moving expenses. The Citrus County school district is taking some steps to improve its chances. This year, Superintendent Pete Kelly made raising the starting salaries for new teachers a top priority, a move that did not sit well during contract talks with many senior teachers already here. The district is also looking into growing its own teachers by starting a teacher academy for high school students similar to ones it has for business, health and environmental sciences. Officials also are considering raising the cap on experience and recruiting out of state and are already improving the district's Internet Web page.