Superintendent's office details 2024–25 staff allocation, enrollment and vacancy shifts

District administrators presented the board with the current staffing allocation for 2024–25 on Jan. 15, outlining hires, program shifts and how October 1 enrollment figures affected staffing decisions.

The presenter (listed in meeting materials as the staffing lead) told the board that October 1 enrollment for the district was 3,838 students, below a projected 3,854 figure used during planning. Between the October 2023 and October 2024 snapshots staff reported hiring 35 certificated employees and 11 non-certificated employees; the presentation noted that about 32 of the certificated hires were regular contracted positions and three were long-term substitutes.

Why it matters

Staffing allocations determine classroom ratios, intervention services and program capacity at each school. The report enumerated program changes driven by grants, shifting enrollment and regulatory requirements, and flagged positions that were filled by reallocating existing vacancy funding.

Key points presented

- Enrollment baseline: October 1, 2024 enrollment used for state reporting was 3,838 students; the district had planned for roughly 3,854. - Hiring and vacancies: 35 certificated hires and 11 non-certificated hires reported since last October; 32 certificated hires were contracted positions and three were long-term substitutes. - Program shifts and causes: reductions in some intervention roles (math and reading) were tied to changes in grant funding that expired after COVID-era allocations; aerospace academy staffing fluctuates with student enrollment and teacher section assignments. - Special education: staff reported an increase in special-education staffing and an additional special-education teacher assigned to Anna Reynolds Elementary; the district said it accomplished that increase by not filling four other vacancies and reallocating those funds (the presentation estimated the vacancy savings at roughly $100,000 and said the reallocation financed the new special-education hire). - Instructional coaching: the district added a one-year instructional coach position funded by a grant to support SEL and discipline practices; the presenter said continuation of that position beyond the one-year grant would be a future budget decision for the board.

Board response and next steps

Board members thanked staff for the detailed report and said the information will inform budget deliberations. The presenter said projections for the next school year will be provided to help the board plan staffing in the operating budget.