LCPS reports near-full staffing: 99% teacher fill rate, 25 current vacancies

Las Cruces Public Schools’ Human Resources department reported on Aug. 19 that the district started the 2025–26 school year with high staffing levels, including a 99% teacher fill rate and about 25 open vacancies districtwide.

HR director presented onboarding and retention efforts, highlighting a revamped new-employee onboarding breakfast (July 16), expanded collaboration with payroll, risk management and communications, and targeted recruitment and branding. The HR presentation also listed strategic initiatives including an HR talent and retention facilitator position (filled by Dr. Jamie Baker), apprenticeship pathways for trades, and university partnerships to strengthen the candidate pipeline.

District leaders said class loads were reviewed and balanced within the first 10 days of school using natural turnover and internal reassignment to avoid layoffs. HR said no staff were required to begin the year in temporary roles: "everyone through attrition was able to start off the year in a permanent position," the presentation noted.

HR provided additional figures: a 96% overall new-employee fill rate, 99% staffing rate for security and nurses, and an 89% fill rate for food services — an area that has improved from prior years. The district listed 25 vacancies (mostly at the elementary level) and said many are being actively recruited and hired.

Board members asked about class sizes and pupil–teacher ratios and HR said the district reviewed balances and made intra-campus and cross-campus shifts to remain in compliance; the district will further analyze counts at the 40-day enrollment marker. HR said the district will continue targeted retention and development work including national board support and substitute-to-hire pipelines.

Ending: HR said it will report 40-day enrollment and staffing balances to the board and continue recruitment and retention work to reduce vacancies.