MEA President: Many Morton teachers are considering leaving as job is, ‘taking a toll on our teachers’

MORTON (25News Now) – With the cost of living rising every year, Morton School District 709 is having a difficult time retaining teachers.

Morton Education Association (MEA) President and 6th grade teacher Shane Weyland said teachers want to provide their students a good education, but they have been struggling to do so because of the pay.

“The job is taking a toll on our teachers. They’re searching out other places and other jobs,” Weyland said.

A survey by MEA found nearly 75% of teachers in the district have considered leaving because of the pay.

The survey showed 35% of them have additional jobs, while 80% said their workload has increased in the last five years. More than half said they are spending their own money for classroom supplies.

Weyland said Morton teachers are making less than neighboring districts like Dunlap and Washington.

According to the district’s website, base salaries started at $42,000 per year for some full-time teachers. He said if pay remains the same, it could affect the future of Morton’s education system.

“What we are focusing on is our students, and for us to be able to do that, we have to be able to recruit the best teachers and retain the best teachers,” said Weyland.

The union and District 709 school board have been negotiating a new contract since February, and teacher pay is a sticking point at the bargaining table.

Their current contract expires in August, and talks with a federal mediator will resume July 8.

“We are human beings who have families that live here. We have dedicated our lives to the students that are here,” said Weyland. “They come to us during the day for eight hours, and we treat them as our own kids.”

Weyland wants the community and school board to see where teachers are coming from and produce a fair contract.

“We are not asking to be the highest paid teachers in the state of Illinois. We are not asking to be the highest paid teachers in Central Illinois,” Weyland said. “What we are searching for is something fair.”

The school district responded with a statement, which is attached below:

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