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Tempe Union reports improved hiring but persistent special-education shortages, 15% attrition this year
Summary
Superintendent’s staffing report said the district hired 32 teachers so far this year (38 total hires counting other positions), remains below last year’s hiring, and continues to show shortages in special education; overall attrition was reported at 15% (85% retention) when rightsizing is included.
Superintendent Dr. Wilson turned the meeting over to Human Resources Director Dr. Keller for a detailed update on certified hiring and multi‑year retention data.
Dr. Keller said the district has hired 32 teachers so far this school year (38 total hires including other roles), compared with 77 hires last year and that special education made up the single largest share of hires. “If you look at what we did last year, the top four ones that we have the highest vacancies in were math, science, social studies, and SPED,” Dr. Keller said, adding that special education accounted for about 31 percent of hires and that the district currently had about 10 SPED vacancies.
The presentation included six years of retention data. Dr. Keller reported 92 total positions vacated this year by attrition-related reasons and summarized departures as 12 retirements, 49 resignations, 23 rightsizing separations and five medical separations; he calculated a 15 percent loss rate that falls to 12 percent when rightsizing is excluded. “We’re at a 15% loss and an 85% retention,” he said.
Board members pressed for more detail about which teachers are leaving. Member Steele asked whether departures were concentrated among short‑tenured teachers or long‑term staff; Dr. Keller said the district is seeing both but estimated many separations occur between three and seven years of service and offered to provide a more granular breakdown. “I can get you some detailed data on that,” Dr. Keller said.
Dr. Keller described recruiting steps the district used this year, including using job platform Indeed and creative site‑level assignments to reduce the number of new hires needed. He said the district filled 99.5 percent of positions on the first day of school and continues to post remaining openings (for example, a PE position being filled this week).
The report also noted that the district hired fewer counselors and support specialists this year (two hired this year versus 10 last year) and fewer administrators (four this year versus six last year). Dr. Keller characterized the overall year as “successful so far” but acknowledged ongoing challenges in attracting SPED and certain other certificated staff.
The board requested additional retention-by-tenure data and agreed to return to the subject in a future report.
The presentation occurred during the Human Resources staffing update (I1) and concluded with the board’s questions and Dr. Keller’s offer to provide more detailed figures.
