Gaston County Schools announces temporary hiring freeze amid budget pressures
Summary
Superintendent Houchard told the board the district will implement a temporary hiring freeze to protect current employees while staff develop mitigation strategies; positions required by law or deemed critical may be filled with HR approval.
Superintendent Houchard told the Gaston County Board of Education that the district is instituting a temporary hiring freeze because of budget constraints affecting many school systems.
“We have made the difficult yet fiscally responsible decision to implement a temporary hiring freeze,” Houchard said. He added that “positions that are deemed critical or required by state legislation may be filled with the approval of our human resource department,” and that the freeze applies to all schools and central-office departments until further notice.
Houchard said the district recognizes the hardship the freeze may place on staffing but described it as necessary to ensure continued employment for current staff while the district develops strategies to lessen the burden. He also highlighted recent student science-fair participation and community holiday events and reminded the public of winter break schedules and central office closures.
