Duluth schools cite persistent special-education vacancies; district taps apprenticeship program to build pipeline

Amber Sadowski, chair of the HR Business Services Committee for Duluth Public Schools, opened the April 13 meeting by flagging a concentrated set of open positions in special education and asking district staff for an explanation.

Steve, a district HR staff member, told the committee that many special-education roles are filled through out-of-field placements that are routinely nonrenewed and reposted each year, producing an April surge in available SPED positions. “Every year, we have people that fill in these roles that are harder to fill,” he said, explaining that out-of-field placements (OFPs) often return to the applicant pool when permanent hires are sought.

To address staffing and develop local talent, the district is partnering with the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Next Gen group on a teach-apprenticeship program designed to move paraprofessionals (PARAs) into special-education teacher roles. Steve said the program is accepting applications and that the district had received seven applications so far; he cautioned that acceptance numbers were not yet known.

Committee members expressed appreciation for the apprenticeship approach and for HR’s work managing staffing during displacement and contractual transitions. Superintendent Magus specifically thanked Steve for his efforts during what the superintendent described as a period of significant administrative work.

Why this matters: special-education vacancies affect classroom coverage and related safety and workload issues. Multiple committee members tied staffing pressures to broader budget strains discussed later in the meeting, signaling that recruitment efforts, apprenticeship pathways and budget choices will remain connected topics for the board.

The committee did not take a formal vote on staffing changes during the session; staff offered to report back with further application and placement details.