Veteran teachers feel left out as Sioux Falls School District gives $10-thousand bonuses to first year teachers

SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) —  They were hoping $10-thousand signing bonuses would help solve a shortage of Special Education teachers in Sioux Falls.  Instead, it may have made the shortage worse.  Special Ed teachers like Jess Mulhair says the bonuses for first year special ed teachers has veteran teachers feeling left out.

Fellow veteran Special Education teacher Lori Pokela also gave the Sioux Falls School Board an earful.  She told Board members the $5-thousand bonuses handed out to first year Special Ed teachers last year failed to solve the problem of the teacher shortage.

A number of veteran Special Ed teachers have decided not to return to the classroom in the fall following the announcement of the signing bonus.