Tehama - The Magazine

Seniors 1155 Walnut Street, Red Bluff, California P: 530.529.4595 • F: 530.529.4544 www.shastatehamaseniorcare.com CA Lic #525002150 CALL OR VISIT ~ TOURS DAILY A COMPASSIONATE CARE FACILITY Assisted Daily Living Individualized Memory Care Resident Information All About ALSCO, INC. 535 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff (530) 527-4001 • PVC PIPE, FITTINGS & HARDWARE • DRIP, MICRO, SOLIDSET SYSTEMS • PUMPS, PIVOTS, WHEELLINES, • AG WELL TESTING • DESIGN SALES RENTAL AND LEASING SERVING CALIFORNIA NEVADA AND OREGON Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm • Sat. 8am-12pm www.alscoirrigation. Since 1948 Lic#381307 18 TEHAMA - THE MAGAZINE, May 2022 By Kathy Garcia and Heidi Mendenhall For Tehama County, most industries faced challenges during the pandemic. Supply chain issues, safety measures and controlling costs were priorities, but finding talent was and remains the number one challenge overall. One of the hardest hit sectors continues to be education. With retirements, a weak pipeline of job seekers and a reputation for being stressful, now more than ever, school districts are feeling the pressure. On any given day, more than 400 job vacancies, from bus drivers to teachers to coaches, are available in Tehama County alone. The districts are not the only ones feeling the pinch. Childcare facilities and preschools are also greatly affected and more are needed. According to First 5 Tehama, the county has early childcare spots for just 31% of children ages 0-5. This includes preschools like Head Start, State preschool and private childcare centers. Without consistent, quality childcare and preschool options, many parents, primarily women, cannot return to the workforce. Over the last two years it has been common for administrators to be working in classrooms up to two days a week due to the lack of preschool teachers and qualified substitute preschool teachers. Add to this a looming new requirement as the state ramps up to establishing universal classrooms for all 4-year-olds at public schools. While "transitional kindergarten" has been around for over a decade, for students who don't meet the kindergarten cut off dates (4 years 9 months or even 4 years 6 months in some districts), this would open it up to all 4- years-olds. This could result in almost double the TK classroom enrollment. Studies show that students who attend a high quality 4-year-old program — whether it's preschool or TK — can Challenges and Opportunities in Early Education in Tehama County

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