West Chester Area SD board approves four new HR positions to expand recruitment, compliance and data work

The West Chester Area School District approved four new human resources positions aimed at strengthening recruitment, compliance and personnel data management.

Ms. Rita, who presented the proposals on behalf of the district’s HR team, said the current HR staff totals six employees and the 2026–27 budget is set to support a headcount of seven. She described two new recruitment roles — Manager of Recruitment and Staffing and Senior Manager of Recruitment and Staffing — and said the manager would focus on implementation while the senior manager would set strategy and a competency‑based selection approach. “Our recruitment strategy is pretty thin. We post positions and and pray,” Ms. Rita said, urging a more proactive, diversified candidate funnel.

Ms. Rita also outlined a Manager of Compliance position to replace a lead HR generalist and focus on clearances and trainings, and a Manager of Special Projects role to build a single source of truth for employee demographic data and repeatable district reports. She estimated the additional headcount cost for one net new position at about $140,000 in salary and benefits and noted a retiring personnel assistant will be backfilled at a lower cost.

Board members asked how the district compared with similar neighboring districts; Ms. Rita said organizational charts vary (some districts include benefits specialists in HR teams) but emphasized reconfigured roles will allow staff to focus on discrete priorities.

The personnel committee requested approval and the board carried the motions by voice vote (committee record shows approvals in the committee meeting; the committee reported motions as carried). The board’s action adds one net new HR position because two of the new roles will be filled by current employees and one will fill a currently open vacancy.

The board adjourned the committee meeting after the HR item approvals.