Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the District Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Superintendent outlines transportation hiring, eSports plan and staffing pressures
Summary
Superintendent gave a March update: transportation director Sherry Sickles is retiring and the district is conducting multi-stage hiring for a role overseeing ~30 buses; the district plans to propose eSports as a high-school program and reported multiple retirements prompting targeted elementary hiring.
The Marlington Local School District superintendent provided the board an update on staffing, transportation and extracurricular planning at the March 12 meeting.
The superintendent said longtime transportation director Sherry Sickles has given advance notice of retirement after more than 30 years of service and described a multi-stage search: about 11 initial candidates were screened, roughly three advanced to a second round and the district is considering a single candidate for a third-round screening. "We had roughly about ... 11. We did a first screen with those 11," the superintendent said, adding the district expects to return in April with a candidate for the board to meet. He emphasized the role manages a fleet of about 30 buses and 25–30 staff and involves state reporting and training requirements.
The superintendent also warned of near-term staffing pressures driven by retirements and resignations, mainly at elementary grades. He said the middle and high schools are largely staffed but that elementary positions were the primary openings, with the district trying to avoid oversized classes.
On extracurriculars, the superintendent said the district is exploring an eSports program housed at the high school. He said the district has been setting aside funds from litigation settlement proceeds and will meet vendors and a coach before presenting startup costs and a formal resolution to the board. "I will be following up again next month with what that cost will be before we make any purchase," he said.
The superintendent closed the update by noting additional personnel actions and that a fuller retirements/resignations list is expected by May or June.
The board did not take additional action at the meeting on the transportation search; the superintendent indicated he expects to present a finalist for review in April.
