Do they have trouble or are they just saying they have trouble? Have you ever heard of a class being dismissed because they had no one to teach the class?
What is the turnover ratio in the school system and how does that compare to local private industry?
How does the hourly compensation for teachers compare with the hourly compensation for other college graduates? Get real! Teachers are not underpaid, if anything they are over paid for what they do!
I haven't researched Baltimore, but most areas are having trouble; I can't see why Baltimore would be much different. It appears from the benefits you've listed that they are trying to find teachers for inner city schools. Do you want to go there? Do you want to be the "teacher next door" in some ghetto?
Usually the classes dismissed because they had no one to teach are electives. Required classes must be taught, but sometimes they are overcrowded or taught by unqualified people because qualified teachers can't be found. I've personally given up my planning period (and I know others who have as well) because a qualified teacher couldn't be found for certain classes and I didn't want the students spending the year with a substitute who didn't know the subject matter. (Yes, I got paid a little bit extra. No, the extra didn't cover the additional time it took. I really did do it for the kids.)
How does the hourly compensation for teachers compare with the hourly compensation for other college graduates? Get real!
Hourly compensation is a bit misleading. It doesn't take into account the additional time most good teachers put in at home, at night, and on weekends. Hourly compensation also doesn't necessarily pay the mortgage.
Teachers are not underpaid, if anything they are over paid for what they do!
I can't understand why all the FReepers who claim this aren't rushing to be "overpaid" as we teachers are. Are you overpaid for what you do? Wouldn't you like to be?