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Extension educators worry staffing gap may reduce local HHS programming
Summary
Purdue Extension educators told commissioners they have sustained 4‑H and fair programming but cannot yet fill a vacant Human Health & Sciences educator post; commissioners requested follow‑up with Purdue Extension leadership on in‑person service commitments and pay competitiveness.
Extension staff summarized 4‑H programming and fair activities and said they applied the 5% budget cuts requested by the commission. They expressed concern about a multi‑year vacancy for a Human Health & Sciences (HHS) educator; recruitment efforts produced candidates who later withdrew or were hired elsewhere. Local educators said they have arranged some HHS programming through regional colleagues but noted that in‑person, county‑level capacity remains limited while the position is unfilled.
Commissioners discussed county expectations that paid support should result in in‑person programming and asked extension staff to arrange a meeting with Purdue Extension leadership to clarify service levels and recruitment timelines. The extension staff said county outreach and pay competitiveness are factors in recruitment and offered to facilitate contact between the commissioners and Purdue's talent acquisition leads.
No formal budget change was adopted during the workshop; commissioners asked staff to follow up with Purdue Extension and to report back on potential adjustments.
