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KCKPS HR reports 87.34% staff retention, outlines recruitment push and substitute coverage gains
Summary
Human Resources reported demographic gains, a reported 87.34% retention rate, a new pay scale and recruitment initiatives including partnerships with universities and Toyota; staff also reported a substitute daily fill rate of 81% after ESS onboarding over 550 substitutes.
Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools’ human resources team presented an update on staff demographics, retention and recruitment initiatives and answered board questions during the December board meeting.
Dr. Jones, who led the presentation, said the district has made modest increases in Asian and Hispanic/Latino representation among certified and classified staff, and reported a year-over-year staff retention rate of 87.34%. He highlighted several retention and recruitment strategies, including an alternative certification learning lab for elementary placements, an updated new-hire orientation, and continued use of a culture and climate survey to inform principals and leaders.
The HR team described compensation changes the board recently approved. “The lowest that anyone will make in the Kansas, Kansas public schools will be $16.09 an hour,” Dr. Jones said, and he added paraprofessionals now start at no less than $20.36 an hour. The presentation also noted a partnership with ESS to support substitutes: the district has onboarded over 550 substitute teachers and reports an 81% daily fill rate, up 4 points from the previous reported rate.
Board members asked for more comparative demographic data over the last three years, additional retention metrics beyond monetary bonuses, clarity about where the climate and culture survey is housed, and vacancy/proximity teacher transition statistics. Rachel Russell asked explicitly about the survey: “So where is the climate and culture survey housed if it's not housed in HR?” Dr. Jones replied that schools administer the survey and HR continues to access the data for retention work.
HR staff outlined next steps: post pool job postings for the 25–26 school year in December, expand recruitment with targeted university partnerships, continue development of teacher fellow programs, and provide comparative and vacancy data requested by the board.
