Human-resources staff told the board on Sept. 16 that the district completed an active summer hiring season: 21 veteran employees moved into new positions through transfers, 26 teachers were hired as new staff and 17 support-staff positions were filled, while 16 support positions remain open and actively recruited.

HR staff described a multi-stage administrative hire process that included screening committees, multiple interview rounds and focus groups with parents, staff and students. The district has integrated a 'Portrait of an Educator' into interview questions and selection rubrics to align hiring with district values.

Administrators also described experimental use of Google’s Gemini AI (a 'gem' bot) to score candidate materials against job descriptions and the portrait rubric. HR characterized the tool as a means to increase efficiency, synthesize large volumes of resumes, produce comparison charts and reduce individual reviewer bias — not as a replacement for human judgment in hiring decisions. Board members praised the approach and encouraged publishing the portrait to the HR website and job postings to attract candidates who fit the district’s profile.

The board approved bundled personnel items at the meeting; HR said some recruitment challenges remain in areas such as custodial and facilities support.