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Teton County schools cite housing, retention programs amid 12.6% five‑year turnover
Summary
Board members pressed district leaders for data on teacher turnover—a five‑year average of 12.6%—and heard that exit interviews point to housing as the leading reason staff leave; the district said it will supply detailed numbers and pursue housing and local 'grow‑your‑own' strategies.
Interim Superintendent Scott Perez told the Teton County School District #1 board on Aug. 13 that addressing teacher retention remains a top priority as staff and trustees return to the school year. "We would really like to embrace a theme in the district this year," Perez said, emphasizing connection across schools and community.
Trustee Bosch flagged turnover statistics from the district report — "the average over the last 5 years, 12.6%" — and asked for projections and exit‑interview data to understand whether turnover will accelerate. Perez and other staff confirmed exit interviews are offered to every departing employee and said, for respondents, housing frequently emerges as the primary reason people leave. "I would go out on a limb and say 85% of the time it's housing," a district speaker said when summarizing exit‑interview themes.
Trustees discussed both near‑term and long‑term responses. Board members supported expanding the district’s 'grow‑your‑own' programs and apprenticeship hires — the district noted several recent apprentices have been hired as teachers — and asked staff to provide detailed turnover projections and exit‑interview summaries to the finance committee. Trustee Bosch requested specific numerical reporting so the board can prioritize responses and evaluate options such as hiring incentives, alternative benefit designs or additional employee housing units.
District leaders also briefed the board on the employee housing project. Charlotte Reynolds, capital‑projects lead, reported interior finishes were progressing and a scheduling timeline would be brought to the board in September. Trustees asked for a complete inventory and rental‑rate summary; Reynolds said the board would receive details on unit count, bedroom mix and pricing.
Next steps: staff committed to deliver detailed turnover numbers, exit‑interview summaries and a housing‑inventory overview to the finance committee and the full board in coming weeks.
