Assistant Superintendent Becky Mader presented the district's human resources report on Oct. 13, outlining hiring, substitute staffing and alternative licensing.

Mader said the district hired 71 new certified staff members and 97 new classified staff members this year. At the time of the report the district listed four remaining certified vacancies and about 10 people working toward alternative or restricted licensure. "This group included 15 individuals who transitioned from a classified or substitute role into a teaching position," Mader said.

Nut graf: HR officials said the district faces challenges filling some positions and covering absences, particularly in classified roles. The district promoted pathway programs such as TAP and MAT for candidates moving from paraprofessional or related backgrounds into teaching, and it described the expanded emergency substitute license (high school diploma plus coursework) and the regular license (60 college credit hours).

Mader described substitute staffing details: the expanded emergency substitute license requires a high school diploma, online modules through Greenbush, district verification and a KSDE licensing fee; those licensees may work up to 25 days in the same assignment and not more than 75 days in a semester. The district also noted partnerships such as AmeriCorps and recruitment work with McConnell Air Force Base for Panther Watch volunteers.

Ending: HR said it will continue outreach to retain student teachers, support alternative licensure candidates and produce a public flyer about substitute requirements to help fill short-term needs.