Oceanside district says it hired nearly 200 staff ahead of school year

Oceanside School District administrators told the board they hired close to 200 people over the summer to prepare for the new school year, a mix of classroom teachers, instructional aides, administrative staff and hourly substitutes. The hires, administrators said, are intended to fill retirements, routine turnover in entry-level roles and growth in particular programs and support roles. Dr. DeRosa, an administrator in Human Resources, told the board, “we hired close to 200 people over the last several months,” and said the hires included “64 professional staff, 37 administrative assistants, teacher assistants, nurses, aides, monitors, and loads and loads of substitute teachers.” She added the district still has vacancies for some aides and monitors and asked interested community members to apply. Board discussion and staff comments explained the mix of hires. Dr. Neuhaus said the district hired about 25 probationary teachers this year—roughly in line with last year’s retirements—and that many other hires were in entry-level positions such as permanent substitutes and teacher assistants, roles that historically show higher turnover. Administrators also described a new one‑year “teaching fellow” title filled by seven recent college graduates to support elementary classrooms and provide targeted professional development. The board approved a set of personnel motions during the meeting that included recommendations for full‑time staff, civil‑service hires, hourly employees, summer‑school staff and DACA‑designated positions; board members voted “aye” with no recorded oppositions on those motions. Administrators cautioned that the district’s staffing numbers include many short‑term and hourly roles, and that some positions are intentionally used as entry points for new educators who later move into longer‑term roles. Board members praised Human Resources and recruiting staff for the summer work and for efforts to limit budget impact. The meeting record shows motions to approve the personnel recommendations were made and seconded and that the motions passed by voice vote. Looking ahead, administrators encouraged community members to apply for openings listed on the district website and said principals will continue to manage any remaining vacancies through scheduling and temporary assignments.