Superintendent reports near‑complete staffing and lists vacancies as schools prepare to reopen Aug. 20

At the July 30 meeting the superintendent gave a summer operations update on staffing, enrollment and back‑to‑school activities for Saint Mary's County Public Schools. Staffing: The superintendent said the district is “in fantastic shape” for the start of the school year but listed outstanding vacancies: two elementary classroom teachers, one high‑school science teacher, one Navy JROTC instructor to succeed the current captain, one media specialist, middle‑school openings in English, math and science, one occupational therapist, a social‑emotional learning (SEL) coach for special education, approximately 2.5 speech‑language pathologist full‑time equivalents, and support‑professional openings (building services staff, assistant managers, bus drivers and assistants, food‑service staff, instructional paraeducators, special‑education paraeducators, secretarial staff, and teacher apprentices). The superintendent said all positions are posted on the SMCPS website and encouraged applicants to use the district’s online employment portal. Back‑to‑school logistics and dates: Staff noted new‑school‑leader meetings and new‑teacher orientation days in early August, content‑specialist work and optional boot camps, a district kickoff event the week before teachers report, and fall‑sports tryouts beginning when teachers return. The superintendent gave a schedule of openings and key dates: teachers report Aug. 13, teacher in‑service Aug. 14–15, home access center opens the afternoon of Aug. 15 for parents to see teacher assignments, professional days Aug. 18–19, and the first day of school Aug. 20. The district will hold school open houses around those dates and asked families not to wait until open house days to complete enrollment/registration to avoid long lines. Student representative: The student member of the board (SMOB) reported being appointed to the AIB pillar‑5 advisory committee for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and said she will report back to the board on that work. Staff and the superintendent asked the public to complete pre‑K and kindergarten enrollment paperwork in advance and to resolve account access issues before key portal‑opening dates.