HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — Monday is the first day of school for Hernando County, and the district is starting off the year with some teacher vacancies.

According to a check this month by the Florida Education Association, there are 95 teacher openings to kick off the year, and 24 support staff openings, which include positions such as bus drivers and teachers’ aids.

Hernando County isn’t alone in trying to fill these gaps, as there is a nationwide shortage.

The school district has implemented some things to help.

There is a new associate program aimed at hiring teachers as they work toward receiving their bachelor's degree.

Also, the mill referendum was put in place in 2020, and will be up for renewal in 2024, which gives veteran teachers a higher pay rate.

But if it fails, Hernando Classroom Teachers’ Association President Lisa Masserio says she fears that they could see more vacancies if those teachers leave to other counties that have a referendum, such as Pasco.

“I’m hopeful that with some of the new outside-of-the-box thinking that the district has been using to approach the teacher shortage issue, that we can have some really positive results for filling vacancies,” she said.