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OPS staffing improves to near pre‑pandemic levels; specialty positions remain a challenge, district expands pipelines
Summary
Chief Talent Officer reported the district met its 95% fill‑rate goal for most years and currently shows about 97% secondary and 98% elementary filled by Aug. 1; gaps persist in math, science and special education, and OPS is expanding pipelines (student‑teacher stipends, Teacher Scholars Academy, university partnerships).
Dr. Nero, chief talent officer, updated the board on the staffing goal: to fill 95 percent of teaching positions with highly qualified candidates by Aug. 1 each year. He said the district met the goal in most years except August 2023 when secondary staffing slipped below 95 percent.
“Right now we’re at about 97% for secondary and 98% for elementary,” Dr. Nero said. He cautioned that these overall fill rates can mask critical shortages: math, science and teachers with special‑education endorsements remain difficult to staff. He also said the district is not yet back to pre‑pandemic staffing levels in absolute numbers because overall student counts have increased.
To build a pipeline, OPS has implemented student‑teacher stipends (noted as among the highest in the metro), a Teacher Scholars Academy partnership with University of Nebraska Omaha, grow‑your‑own certification programs for current employees, and targeted recruitment. The district is also using long‑term substitutes and supported out‑of‑area teaching assignments when needed.
Board members asked about specialist staffing (music, art, PE); Dr. Nero said those specialist positions are currently 100 percent staffed. Members also asked about retirements and resignations; staff intend to provide the customary annual staffing report in August that will summarize attrition.
Ending: District leaders said they will continue pipeline investments, monitor subject‑specific shortages and return with the August staffing/compensation report and year‑end attrition numbers.
