OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Nationwide, there have been reports of burnout among teachers and school staff members, including some even quitting during the middle of the year.
School officials in Wisconsin say it’s prevalent statewide.
“Those unrelenting workloads are at crisis level,” said Peggy Wirtz-Olsen, President of the Wisconsin Education Association Council.
The Wisconsin Education Association Council is the largest teacher’s union in the state and is a member of the National Education Association. That is the teacher’s union that found 55% of educators nationwide plan to leave their job earlier than originally planned.
That same survey also found 90% of educators feel burnout is a serious problem. 67% consider it very serious.
“Many of them have pivoted on a dime for circumstances ever changing in their school districts,” said Wirtz-Olsen.
“Our time in January was really difficult coming off the Omicron variant being really high,” said Bryan Davis, superintendent of the Oshkosh Area School District.
Davis tells FOX 11 staffing shortages were to a point where he even substitute taught for a day.
The district responded by turning two snow days into mental health days.
“To be able to have some time in February was really beneficial for our staff, received a lot of positive feedback from our staff,” said Davis.
“Any district that is showing an ability to recognize that unrelenting workload and find some reprieve is helpful,” said Wirtz-Olsen. “Those are, as I’ve indicated, short-term solutions. We’re really seeking long-term solutions of how we can bring educator voice back to the table.”
Specifically, Wirtz-Olsen says educators should have a say in workload issues and help for student mental health.
She says the lack of a voice at the table goes back the last 10 years in Wisconsin.
In 2011, Act 10 was passed, which removed most collective bargaining rights for most public employees.
That national teacher’s union survey found 80% of its members reported unfilled job openings have led to more work obligations for the educators who remain.
“I think we’re right around 200 resignations at this point in the year,” said Davis. “Typically for an entire year, we’re between 110 and 130. So, I would say yes, we’re certainly at an increased level and that is for all our staff as we’re moving forward.”
Davis says the reasons staff are leaving Oshkosh Area Schools vary beyond burnout and the pandemic.
With hopes of long-term improvement, Oshkosh is bumping pay 4.7% for next school year.
“We made a shift in our insurance programming to go to a self-insured program, so that allowed us to be able to save some money to be able to reallocate that,” said Davis. “We wanted to make sure that stayed with our staff.”
Davis says benefits for staff will remain about the same with the change.
He also says the pay raise is the largest the district has ever given.
On the national teacher’s union survey, raising pay was the top response for ways to address burnout, with 96% support. Next closest was 94% for increased mental health support for students.
