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HR update: district reports high fill rates, proposes special-education diagnostician hire
Summary
Human-resources staff told the committee vacancy and retention targets are being met and proposed adding one special-education diagnostician (plus potential five FTEs) to improve evaluation consistency and free coordinators for direct student support.
Human-resources director Celeste told the Finance & Resource Committee that the district is exceeding staffing targets and is proposing to add at least one special-education diagnostician to improve evaluation consistency and on-site support.
Celeste reported teacher staffing at 99.52% and educational/operational support staffing at 98.31%, both figures that exceed targets and last year’s levels. She said effective-teacher retention and substitute-fill rates are tracking well as the school year begins. The approved FTE last spring was 904.82; current teacher FTE was reported at 902.25 with a contingency of about 2.5 FTE.
On special education, Celeste said the district has identified student needs that were not anticipated in the staffing plan and is requesting an additional five FTE overall if approved. The immediate action is to add one special-education diagnostician and program-support teacher focused on elementary-level evaluations and support. Celeste said that position would provide consistent diagnostic testing year to year and reduce the clerical/testing burden on special-education coordinators.
A committee member asked if the additional positions would affect the existing budget. Celeste said the intent is that the new positions would not reduce the amount reserved for fund balance because DPI approved an increase to the levy authority tied to those positions; she added the exact levy result is still being finalized.
Members also raised concerns about recent federal-level reductions to the Department of Education’s special-education staff. Celeste said early indications from DPI suggest the district’s reimbursements and funding should not be affected immediately; staff will gather more information from a district contact and share a communication to parents and staff once the district has a fuller picture.
No formal hiring decisions were made at the committee meeting; the HR director said she would add the diagnostician to the staffing plan and report back on any broader FTE requests when they are finalized.
