Posted: 06.29.2011
The list of challenges facing the new president of the Wisconsin Association of Agricultural Educators (WAAE) as he begins his term. Starting this afternoon, David Kruse, agriculture educator in the Elkhorn school district will have quite the to-do list.
During their annual summer meeting that wraps up today in Green Bay, WAAE staff said that there's currently 28 agriculture education programs around the state still facing budget cuts this fall. Those cuts might be in staff salary, in-class materials, affiliations or any number of other reductions. Paul Larson, ag educator in Freedom and chair of the Wisconsin Ag Education and Workforce Development Council, says his entire school district was laid off this spring in an effort to deal with budget shortfalls. He says fortunately, their two-person agriculture staff has been restored, but are still facing a 10-15 percent cut. Larson says there were originally 14 more school districts on that list of shortfalls - but those have all stabilized now. Larson says many school districts are walking a fine line with ag educators - proposing up to a 19 percent reduction in salary - just enough to keep the teacher from filing for some unemployment benefits.
There is some positive news for ag educators. Marty Nowak, current president of WAAE and ag instructor in Luxemburg-Casco, says FFA alumni's, agribusiness and other associations have really stepped up their localized support of agriculture education. Still, there's the question of not only what happens this school year - but next. "We're currently running about 10 percent behind on the number of qualified employees we've got to fill existing jobs in Wisconsin agriculture," says Paul Larson of Freedom, "And once we see the 'baby boomers' move more toward retirement we're really going to have a gap to fill. That's one of the key messages that agriculture advocates need to spread in their communities! Agriculture's got jobs!"
And speaking of those jobs - there are actually 6-8 school districts in Wisconsin still looking for agriculture education teachers. Larson tells Pam Jahnke that they may be available because of retirements or program expansion! They expect there wil be additional openings through the summer.
There are some new faces in agriculture education announced already for this fall. New instructors preparing for the fall term include:
Adam Kohn - Marion High School
Tiffany Cichan - Rosholt High School
Chanyn McGinnis - New Lisbon High School
Kaleb Santry - Oconto Falls High School
Shelly Oelhafen - Random Lake High School
Kim Houser, ag instructor for WI Heights High School was named vice president of WAAE - preparing to become president in 2012.
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