Teacher Shortages and New Cellphone Bans Mark School Year

As the 2024/2025 academic year begins, schools are facing significant challenges including teacher shortages and operational readiness issues. In Wyoming, stagnant teacher salaries have led to difficulties in hiring qualified staff, with Uinta County School District 1 struggling to fill 14 positions just days before school started. In Trinidad and Tobago, teachers are prepared, but many schools are not, raising health and safety issues that could lead to school shutdowns. Meanwhile, Jamaica's education ministry reported that schools are working to recover from Hurricane Beryl's damage, with some students being accommodated in alternative spaces. Additionally, schools in Maine, British Columbia, and Ontario are implementing new cellphone restrictions aimed at reducing classroom distractions and improving mental health, though educators express uncertainty about enforcement and effectiveness.