ND oil town's prosperity doesn't reach teachers

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The busiest city in North Dakota's booming oil patch is bracing for a big influx of students next school year.

Williston expects to gain about 1,200 students, bringing enrollment to about 3,800 from about 2,600 last year. To keep pace, school officials are hiring 52 new teachers.

But while the average wage has risen dramatically from $32,000 a year to about $80,000 since 2006, pay for teachers hasn't kept up.

Recent college graduate Molly Lippert says she'll be living with her in-laws after taking a $31,500-a-year position teaching first grade.

Still, school superintendent Viola LaFontaine (luh-FOUN -tuhn) says applications have come in from around the country, despite the city's high cost of living, lack of housing and the low teacher salaries. She says administrators have already hired about 40 people.

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