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Powhatan reports 70 hires over summer, zero classroom vacancies; urgent need for bus drivers remains
Summary
District HR reported 70 hires since contracts went out, improved teacher retention to 94%, and 0 classroom vacancies for the start of school; transportation and HVAC technician roles remain hardest to fill, with the district seeking 10 bus drivers.
Powhatan County Public Schools told the school board on Aug. 12 that human-resources efforts over the summer produced 70 hires across the division and that every classroom will have a teacher on the first day of school.
HR director and division administrators presented a staffing summary that described hiring at each level: 12 hires at Pocahontas Elementary, eight at Powhatan Elementary and Flat Rock Elementary each, 13 at the middle school and 17 at the high school. Division-level hires (central-office roles) and five bus-driver hires were also noted. Overall teacher retention rose to about 94 percent from 85 percent the prior year, the division reported.
Officials said the greatest remaining hiring needs are transportation (the division reported a need for about 10 bus drivers at the time of the meeting) and one HVAC technician. The division described recruitment efforts — a public “test drive a school bus” event, social-media outreach including a viral video produced by a current driver, a referral bonus program (employees who refer a bus driver can earn $250 at six months and another $250 at one year) — and weekly video pushes to advertise vacancies.
Administrators also introduced school administrative teams and new principals and assistant principals joining the division. The board expressed appreciation for HR’s summer work to secure teachers and fill leadership roles ahead of the school year.
