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Personnel committee hears staffing, recruitment and survey updates; HCM contract negotiations near recommendation
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Summary
The Frederick County School Board personnel committee received informational updates on vacancies, recruitment and retention strategies, a staff intent survey with a high response rate, and near‑final human capital management contract negotiations; no board approvals were requested.
The Frederick County School Board Personnel Committee met Feb. 9 and received informational updates on staffing levels, recruitment and retention efforts, the results of an employee intent survey and the status of a human capital management (HCM) contract negotiation.
Division staff presented vacancy and coverage data, saying many professional openings are being covered by long‑term substitutes (defined as 10 or more consecutive days in the same position) or contracted staff from external agencies. "So they gouge their prices," Rachel Rinker said of some agencies that supply compliance‑required special‑education and related‑service staff, noting those contracts carry higher costs because the positions are required for compliance.
Rinker said contracted general‑education teachers supplied through one vendor are "about a wash" in cost once work days and pay differentials are accounted for, but they do not receive benefits through the vendor arrangement. The division reported specific contracted roles in place, including three special‑education teachers, one TVI and six diagnostic/related‑service positions such as school psychologists and speech/language pathologists.
On recruitment, Mr. West highlighted the division’s BloomBoard grow‑your‑own pathway and recent outreach. He said five BloomBoard participants passed the fall semester and that the division is attending multiple recruitment fairs this spring, including a licensed educator job fair March 7 at Robert Aylor Middle School and campus visits Feb. 20 (JMU and Radford), March 10 (Millersville and Liberty), March 25 (Pittsburgh Education Recruitment Consortium) and April 8 (Laurel Ridge). The division also described substitute recruitment tables and partnerships with Virginia Career Works and local colleges.
Staff summarized targeted strategies: prioritizing Grow Your Own pathways for elementary and special‑education roles, offering TTAC coursework for special‑education candidates, and working to tighten onboarding timelines so new hires start sooner. The division acknowledged some roles—particularly learning‑center special‑education and TVI positions—remain hard to fill.
The committee also reviewed an employee plan‑of‑intent survey launched Jan. 12. After an extension, response rates rose from about 60% to close to 80%; among respondents reported in the presentation, roughly 90% indicated they plan to return next year. Division staff said principals and supervisors will receive rosters to follow up with employees who marked "maybe" or "no" to support retention efforts.
On procurement, staff said final negotiations are underway for a new HCM system after completing reference checks and that they hope to bring a contract recommendation to the full school board later this month.
Committee business opened and closed with routine procedure: the committee approved the meeting agenda by voice vote at the start and later approved a motion to adjourn; no items were before the full board for approval this evening.
The committee took no policy votes; staff will return with additional details on separations/retirements and, if approved through the procurement process, a recommended HCM contract.
