It’s no secret Oklahoma has the worst teacher pay in the nation and a shortage of teachers. But some superintendents still can’t find enough for their classrooms. (KTUL)

It’s no secret Oklahoma has the worst teacher pay in the nation and a shortage of teachers. But some superintendents still can’t find enough for their classrooms.

“The biggest challenge for us is the shortage. There were two positions we have not filled until the end of the semester until some kids graduated from Northeastern State University because we could not find a teacher,” said Mike Garde, of Muskogee Public Schools.

He joined the Oklahoma School Advisory Council Tuesday for a legislative lunch.

“We are waiting to see if there is going to be a shortfall. But we are in a little better shape this year than last year to handle a shortfall," said Garde.

There could be a shortfall -- about $600 million, according to State Sen. Gary Stanislawski, who is writing legislation to help fund teacher pay increases.

“If we are coming in with a $600 million shortfall to give teachers a $5,000 pay raise, that is $300 million. That is not going to happen. I don’t see a plan we could actually make that work,” said Stanislawski.

He says lawmakers will have to consider taking back some of the tax breaks the state has given and using that money to fund schools.

“Understand there will be tough decisions to make at the legislative level to free up resources to reallocate toward teacher allocation,” said Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister, who is embroiled in a legal matter of her own.

Hofmeister expects to keep fighting for schools, teachers and more funding despite calls for her resignation on both sides of the aisle.

“We want to make sure kids are growing. And we are measuring what matters most that is what I will continue to focus on,” said Hofmeister, who has a preliminary hearing in February regarding alleged campaign funding violations.