District human‑resources staff presented a strategic update on recruitment, licensure and retention efforts aimed at increasing educator diversity and supporting new hires.

HR described several operational changes: personalized onboarding emails, a new‑hire booklet distributed at orientation, standardized district‑wide forms for leaves and resignations to streamline HR processes, and new 60‑ and 90‑day onboarding surveys. The district said it is participating in up to 20 career fairs and expanding outreach to historically Black colleges and universities and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.

On licensure, HR staff said many educators hold professional or initial licenses but the district still has employees on emergency or waiver licenses from COVID-era hiring. The district reported offering competency‑portfolio supports, MTEL prep sessions, vouchers, childcare and transportation reimbursements to help emergency/waiver teachers pursue full licensure; Salem State was identified by the DESE as the Metro North regional center for licensure supports.

Presenters highlighted retention strategies, including a mentor program and a rolling induction process to ensure staff who start late in the school year receive induction supports. They said the district will continue to refine recruitment materials to highlight affinity groups and DEI work and to build pipelines from high‑school programs into teaching.

HR presented diversity figures drawn from district data as of Sept. 26: teacher diversity at 10.86% (an increase from prior years) and administrator diversity at 20.28%; the presentation noted paraprofessional numbers fluctuate with student needs. Committee members asked about tracking of applicants, and HR said TalentEd provides posting and application status updates and that the application form now asks candidates how they heard about openings to evaluate outreach channels.

Committee members praised the new hire booklet and exit interviews; HR said exit responses show varied reasons for leaving, commonly for other opportunities rather than a single dominant factor. The committee encouraged continued focus on mentorship and support at the school level.

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