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Linn‑Mar board hears about 31 open positions; staff outlines recruitment and retention steps
Summary
Superintendent Kortmeyer told the board the district had about 31 open positions this summer, described recruitment efforts (job fairs, referral bonuses, streamlined applications) and said exit interviews will be analyzed to produce an action plan focused on special‑education retention and a principals' exercise on Oct. 30.
Board members raised concern about a steady stream of resignations for student support associate roles and asked whether the district has workable solutions to fill vacancies and mitigate classroom impacts.
Superintendent Kortmeyer said the district counted about 31 open positions at the most recent check and described steps the district is taking: job fairs, marketing, radio and social media outreach, a shortened online application, referral bonuses and consideration of flexible or part‑time assignments. "Sometimes we think maybe a hurdle is that that application process is longer, so we've truncated that," Kortmeyer said.
Kortmeyer said HR and cabinet will analyze exit‑interview data and that the cabinet plans an internal exercise to develop a retention action plan; the district will repeat a similar exercise with principals on Oct. 30. He identified special‑education staffing as a primary retention focus, saying improving retention there should improve overall staffing stability.
Board members asked whether exit surveys capture where employees go; staff replied that the surveys primarily ask why employees left and often include where they are going. The board encouraged tracking whether departing staff move to other districts, nonprofits or different roles to understand incentives and potential policy responses.
No formal staffing policy change was proposed; the board asked staff for follow‑up reporting and an action plan timeline.
