District aims to lure quality teachers to Franklin County
FRANKLIN COUNTY, North Carolina (WTVD) -- Franklin County Schools, a normal attendee at the North Carolina Regional Educational Job Fair, will be marked absent this year.
"We wanted to host something where we can get the biggest bang for our bucks," said Dannie Williams, Chief of Human Resources for Franklin County Schools.
Nearly a dozen other school districts, including Wake County, will participate in Saturday's job fair. Williams said this Saturday, Franklin County schools will host its own job fair exclusively for more than 35 positions that need to be filled.
"It's kind of like competition with other school districts across the state," Williams explained. "And when you have so many of us crowding in, you tend to lose it to a measure or to the larger systems in the state."
Franklin County Schools is offering more than the state base pay, with a seven percent annual supplement, a $1000 signing bonus for new teachers, another $1000 retention bonus for returning teachers, $750 in tuition reimbursement for advanced coursework, and free life, health, and dental insurance for employees.
"For a newbie coming directly out of college, you know, $40,000 is nothing to sneeze at," Williams explained. "They will be guaranteeing interviews on the spot and upon their recommendation, they will be offering contingent contracts on the spot."
Numbers aside, the school district says they also offer benefits that districts such as Wake, Johnston, and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools may not be able to provide.
"We know everyone name by name, person by person. Se we want them to feel like they're at home," Williams told ABC11. "This is home for you and we want to serve you and offer you any and all assistance that we can possibly give you."
Franklin County will hold their job fair on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Franklinton High School.
The North Carolina Regional Educational Job Fair will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Leesville Road High School.
