The Manitowoc School District board voted to allow the district to contract with an international teacher-staffing company to help fill classroom vacancies, district leadership said during the meeting.

Superintendent (name not specified) told the board the district currently has eight teacher vacancies and five open special education teacher positions, plus openings in fourth grade, reading, speech and language, orchestra and specific high school posts. The district is also recruiting for 14 paraprofessional positions and recently interviewed candidates for an HVAC opening.

To address the shortages, the superintendent described three recruitment tracks the district is pursuing: local staffing partners (Emeritus), online options used previously (Elevate K-12), and an agreement with a company that recruits and assists international teachers. The international company, the superintendent said, handles visa paperwork, medical insurance, acclimation and housing and charges the district a percentage fee of a recruited teacher’s salary (the superintendent stated 25% in discussion). Candidates recruited through such programs typically commit to contracts of one, three or five years.

Board members asked whether the district or candidates would pay agency fees and how quickly visas could be processed. The superintendent said program rules vary by provider and that, because of a recent pause in visa processing, there is now a backlog; new hires brought in through the international program might not arrive by the first day of school but could arrive shortly thereafter.

A motion to approve the agreement to allow the district to work with the international staffing company was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. The superintendent said the agreement allows the district to work with the company but does not require payment unless an individual candidate is placed.

The board also discussed local recruitment steps: a paraprofessional hiring fair scheduled for two days after the meeting that will use an arena-style, on-site interviewing model with multiple principals conducting interviews. The superintendent said the district has been cold-calling and emailing certified candidates and working with principals to speed hiring. She reported the district has filled nine vacancies since the previous board meeting, including an occupational therapist and a social worker.

Board members raised concerns about using signing bonuses or other incentives, noting equity implications across job classifications and the risk of escalating expectations for other staff groups. The superintendent said compensation comparisons were being reviewed but that she is prioritizing consistent systems and equitable practices before adopting broad incentive programs.

The district also discussed the licensing and certification process, including working with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (referred to in discussion as BPI) and ensuring recruited candidates meet certification requirements before placement.