District HR and instructional leaders told the board they filled required positions for the new school year but encountered reduced applicant pools for some secondary subjects and for special education endorsements.

HR staff reported the district hired 34 new teachers for 2025-26 and that secondary positions in areas such as English and special education saw far fewer applicants than in past years. "Secondary has a smaller number than elementary. We had some of our positions at the secondary that only had 3 applicants," an HR staff member said. The same staff member said elementary postings typically attracted 30 to 45 applicants.

Staff described special-education recruitment as especially strained statewide; a presenter said the number of people graduating with special-education credentials in Iowa has declined by about 30% over three years. To respond, the district said it is pursuing multiple strategies: hiring candidates who agree to obtain endorsements post-hire, running apprenticeship or "grow-your-own" programs to develop special-education staff internally, and encouraging current teachers to add needed endorsements.

Board members and administrators discussed monitoring midyear openings, possible reassignment of staff if enrollment shifts occur, and the importance of making assignments clear to avoid undue anxiety among current teachers. HR said they would continue tracking application volumes and that some late resignations can create unexpected needs.

No formal board policy changes were proposed at the meeting; staff said they will continue to use internal development and targeted hiring to address shortages and will report back as openings arise.