Tuscaloosa Schools Boost Special Ed Teacher Pay

0:00It's April 8th, welcome in. This is Birmingham News Today, where local news meets AI. I'm Cory with the story. Tuscaloosa City Schools just greenlit a fresh plan to tackle their special education teacher shortage. They're rolling out supplements and extra support to pull in new hires and keep the ones they've got. Right now, they've got 11 spots open in those classrooms. Superintendent Dr. Mike Daria made it clear, this is top priority. He wants every special ed room fully staffed with top-notch teachers so kids get the instruction they need. These vacancies have been dragging on for years now. Parents and educators are breathing a sigh of relief because stable staffing means better learning for students who need specialized help. The plan boosts pay and adds professional backup, which should make the jobs more appealing long term. Details show it'll run for three years at a cost of $700,000 to $800,000 each year. Starting mixes state money with district general funds, even as they juggle bigger budget

1:00headaches. This move locks in classroom stability and shows the district's locked on putting kids first, no matter the hurdles.