Superintendent reports modest enrollment gains and open staffing needs; district monitoring kinder numbers

At the Sept. 25 meeting the superintendent briefed the board on enrollment trends and human resources data tied to district funding and operations. Enrollment: Superintendent emphasized that enrollment directly affects state funding, noting the district uses an average of the 80th and 120th day submissions and that membership and enrollment counts differ slightly. Since the last meeting the district recorded 53 new enrollments and eight new kindergarten enrollments; the superintendent said the district appears to be roughly flat and that the October 8 (40th day) reporting period will yield preliminary results. Human resources: The superintendent reported 160 new employees in the district for the most recent reporting period and 30 open positions. Of the 14 open teacher positions, six are for special education. She explained that seven of those 14 open positions are covered by a consistent long‑term substitute; the remaining six are covered by rotating substitutes. Questions and direction: Board members asked for clarifying monthly HR detail; the superintendent offered to continue providing a monthly breakdown of vacancies, long‑term substitute coverage, and other HR metrics. Why it matters: Enrollment numbers determine state funding formulas; open positions, particularly in special education, affect classroom staffing and service delivery.