Rural struggles: Teachers ‘live in a poverty level’
“Many students and educators across America face concerns that stem from a lack of technological infrastructure to the economic state of their rural school districts. One in five students across the U.S. goes to school in a rural setting, and these districts are ridden with their own challenges. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is known for its captivating landscapes, gorgeous Great Lakes and forestry. It’s a vacation spot, but for many, it’s also home. ‘This is my town. This is where I went to school at; this is where I want to raise my family,’ said Superintendent Tom McKee. He’s forced to wear a lot of hats at Rudyard Area Schools. ‘I have had to drive a bus. I’ve had to substitute teach quite a bit. I’ve worked in the kitchen a few times,’ McKee recalled. Helping out is the easy part. ‘So our biggest challenge is lack of funding. Transportation-wise, we have a lot of miles to cover — 402 square miles is how big our district is,’ McKee said. It means more gas, higher bus driver salaries and maintenance costs. Nearly 20% of McKee’s budget goes toward transportation.”