The South Dakota teacher Placement Center reported this week that teacher vacancies in the state dipped below last year’s numbers for the sixth consecutive month. The state had 186 teaching vacancies in June, compared to 215 this time last year.

Executive Director of the Associated School Board of South Dakota, Dr. Wade Pogany says the numbers are encouraging, but

Pogany says he’s not sure if that’s specifically thanks to the teacher pay raise that was passed during this year’s legislative session, but it’s also going to take a long time to get less of a shortage.

Pogany says the pay raise should help incentivize young people to seek a career in teaching

Pogany says in addition to the pay raise, bills like “the classroom innovation grant program” should help

Pogany says the Blue Ribbon Task Force has helped push for more creative ways to keep teachers.