District reports declining vacancies but still lists about 9.5 unfilled positions as school year opens

Human-resources leadership told the board the district reduced its open positions from a spring peak and had hired several certified teachers but still faces staffing gaps ahead of the new school year. "As of July 16, the vacancy notices we had 49 total open positions," HR Director Tiff Gunter said; she summarized earlier monthly counts of 71 open positions in April, 81 in May, 71 in June, 49 in July and 43 as of Aug. 1.

Gunter told the board the district recorded 51 total separations for the 2024–25 school year (44 resignations and seven retirements). She said principals and HR have filled many vacancies over the summer: the district has hired 10 English teachers (positions now filled) and eight math teachers, with a ninth math opening currently covered by a long-term substitute. Gunter said principals and HR had placed 27 long-term substitutes in classrooms and recommended six certified hires for board approval at the meeting; after those certified hires and current placements the district listed roughly "9.5" remaining vacancies that leaders said they intend to fill.

Gunter explained the district sometimes closes a posting when a long-term substitute temporarily fills a role in order to reset the applicant pool; she also described differences between vacancies created for new positions tied to strategic goals (smaller class sizes, new electives, additional counselors or social workers) and ongoing replacement hiring. "This year, we intentionally created additional positions to reduce class size support initiatives," she told trustees.

Trustees asked for more information from exit interviews and survey data to understand why staff are leaving. Gunter said the district offers face-to-face exit interviews and an "upbeat" survey; she reported 24 staff completed the upbeat survey plus four who did in-person exit interviews for a total of 28 responses out of 51 separations, and said common reasons cited in conversations included moving closer to family. Trustees pressed for de-identified survey results and broader outreach to departing staff to surface trends the board can act on.

Gunter described credential requirements and substitute staffing practices: many long-term substitutes are district veterans, retirees or teachers nearing degree completion; certified substitute teachers must hold required credentials from the state (she offered to provide the specific Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board requirements to trustees). She also outlined a new health-insurance option for part-time employees (eligibility at 29 hours per month), saying the district negotiated three tiered plans offered at employee cost with no district premium subsidy.

The board approved six certified hires on the consent agenda during the meeting and asked HR to provide de-identified exit-survey summaries for trustees to review. HR said it will upload an updated vacancy notice after the approved hires are posted and continue active recruitment for the remaining openings.