School board approves personnel report; staff say hiring and retention have improved

The Geary County Schools board unanimously approved the personnel report during the meeting, with the motion passing 5 to 0.

Speaker 2 presented the staffing update, saying several elementary classifications still have open positions but offers have been extended. Speaker 2 reported Junction Middle School and Junction High School are largely full and Fort Riley Road School is nearly full. He said the district expects fewer new hires this cycle — "we're gonna have less than a 100 hires," compared with prior years when the district hired about "115 to a 130." Speaker 2 attributed improvement to better retention practices and building-level support, including mentors.

Speaker 2 also noted changes in long-term substitute use: the district resumed consideration of long-term substitutes as of June 1 after state approval, and where the district previously had more than 60 long-term subs at times, "this year, I think it's 23 of those individuals are in the classroom with a license." He added the district has expanded apprenticeship programs, noting a registered future apprenticeship program that had one participant last fall will have four to five this fall.

The board approved the personnel report after a motion and second; Speaker 4 recorded the motion and the transcript records the vote as "Motion passes. 5 to 0." The transcript does not provide a roll-call breakdown of individual votes.

Why it matters: staffing levels, retention and 'grow your own' programs affect classroom stability and district capacity. The report indicates improved retention and early expansion of apprenticeship pathways; the board approved those personnel actions with unanimous support.