A Nantucket teacher says the island’s high school is likely headed for a staffing crisis this fall, as housing prices and island logistics make recruitment and retention increasingly difficult.
Some schools around the region are experiencing staff shortages due to COVID-19 and a lack of substitute teachers, but the shortage is becoming a broader problem on Nantucket, said Nantucket High School English teacher Page Martineau.
“We are in an absolute crisis,” she said. “We have a ton of retirements and resignations coming up. So I foresee in September that Nantucket is going to limp into the school year with a ton of openings.”
The district should have five social workers, but it could only retain one social worker for most of the year, she said.
Martineau is co-president of the Nantucket Teachers' Association.
Nantucket Superintendent Elizabeth Hallett said the schools have been able to access some counseling through a local nonprofit.
Hallett said that so far, job openings for the fall are comparable to other communities, but housing is a problem.