District human-resources staff presented the board with a multi-year review of professional-educator turnover at the Oct. 27 meeting, showing that retirements and family- or relocation-driven departures account for the majority of exits.

Troy (staff) told trustees the district has collected turnover data for about 13 years and that retirements represented the largest single category this year. The presentation compared the district’s teacher-pay data with neighboring districts using state (DPI) reporting that is limited to certified teachers; administrators cautioned that other staff groups — social workers, psychologists, speech pathologists — are sometimes included in broader internal reports described as “professional educators.”

During public comment, William McIntosh said the district’s report lumps multiple job types under the rubric “teachers” and urged the board to break out pay and raise information by specific job category (psychologists, counselors, related services staff) so comparisons with peer districts are clearer. Trustees and staff discussed that many departures go to hometowns or non-public employers and frequently do not reflect higher pay as the principal reason.

Troy said administrators plan a follow-up compensation-and-benefits comparison that will include health insurance, personal-day policies and other elements of total compensation to provide a fuller basis for comparisons with peer districts.

Trustees asked for additional detail on nonrenewals and resignations “in lieu of performance” and for a separate compensation/benefits report to help determine whether benefits or pay differences contribute to departures.