WOODVILLE &045;&045; Area public and private schools will begin opening next week, but some administrators are searching for teachers.

&uot;We normally have some vacancies, but not to the extent that we are having this year,&uot; said Wilkinson County School Superintendent Mildred McGhee

A recent change in Louisiana’s teacher retirement laws is the culprit.

McGhee said the change in law has lured some teachers away from her district.

Teachers who have been retired from the Louisiana system for 12 months can now return to work on a full-time basis without losing retirement benefits.

McGhee said the traditional problem of low salaries also contributes to the vacancies.

&uot;Teachers are naturally going to try to go where the better salaries are,&uot; McGhee said.

McGhee said elementary and high school teachers are needed in Wilkinson County, as well as an assistant principal, a band director and a speech therapist.

&uot;We are interviewing applicants, and we hope to fill all the vacancies, but we may have to use some substitutes to begin the year,&uot; said McGhee.

Carrie Cupit, newly named headmaster at Wilkinson County Christian Academy, said teacher vacancies are not a major concern.

&uot;We have a few slots that we could add to, but we are ready to go,&uot; Cupit said.