Board hears recruitment and retention committee update; district plans salary schedule work, staff events

Lou Anne Statham, who identified herself as a member of the district's recruitment, retention and celebration of staff committee, updated the board on four committee goals: recruitment, retention, staff celebration and data-driven decision-making.

Statham said the committee is pursuing new recruitment materials, increasing partnerships with educational institutions to attract student teachers, and seeking more minority applicants. She described retention efforts as focusing on supportive workplaces, work-life balance and career-path development.

Assistant Superintendent Mindy Ritchie said human-resources work includes streamlining onboarding and mentoring and tailoring professional development. "My team in human resources has done a lot around enhancing onboarding," Ritchie said, and she said a new-survey analysis helped the district identify recurring issues such as technology questions and benefits inquiries.

The committee reviewed use of a state teacher-vacancy grant. Statham said the grant is allocated for districts in tier 1 that are furthest from adequacy and have multiple educator vacancies; the district qualifies and uses those funds for recruitment and related work. The committee also previewed the district's staff-wellness event branded "Choose to Thrive," planned for March 2026; committee members corrected a draft date on the slide and told the board the event will be March 7, 2026.

Statham said a committee subteam is discussing a salary-schedule proposal for the 2026-27 school year and that the committee has met with the GEA (Galesburg Education Association) as part of planning. Board members praised the committee's work; no formal action was taken during the update.