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As the number of applications for teaching positions has declined, the School District has turned to new strategies for recruitment.
Human Resources Director Amy Shanks provided an update on recruitment and retention goals as the school year starts up at Thursday night’s School Board meeting.
Recruitment for positions has changed over the years, she said. While they used to receive hundreds of applicants for various roles, that is no longer the case. Shanks said the district used to focus on recruiting specifically in the region, but have expanded to include more national recruitment since spouses can oftentimes work remotely.
Career fairs are also playing a larger role in recruitment, she said. She has taken an active role in making sure they sell the district during those fairs rather than just a building, she said.
The district has also worked on making the onboarding process a more ongoing process so teachers feel supported long term as they adjust to their positions.
Shanks said a staff survey has been helpful for finding actionable items to improve culture. About 90% of staff who filled out the survey last fall said they thought highly of their job in the district, she said.
“So I think that number speaks way higher than our exit survey results do,” Shanks said. “The highest scoring areas were in relationships, safety, resources and connection to work.”
Board President Mark Chrislip said other districts are impressed with Eudora’s employee survey.
“It seems to me it is really pretty innovative for us to be doing that,” Chrislip said. “I think making sure we take clear action on things is very beneficial.”
Superintendent Stu Moeckel said next steps are laying out specific answers to start discussion on how to move forward on things teachers had concerns about in those surveys.
Making actual changes within the district shows teachers their information is used, she said.
As far as turnover, Shanks said the rate is high right now at 29%, but this number includes the interlocal, which has not been included in previous reports. Last year – without the interlocal’s data included – the turnover rate was about 11%, she said. That is meeting industry standards, she said.
“So our interlocal staff are included in that, but I also feel it’s important to include them, because I do feel that our success depends on having them,” she said.
Board members Joe Hurla and Heather Whalen asked if Shanks could provide more information about what percent of that increase was actually within the district. Hurla wondered if that would be lower than the 29%, and what percent increase it would be from the 11% last year.
Shanks said she did not have that data but could get it to the board.
When staff leave the district, they are asked to complete an exit interview with a survey to rate why they are leaving.
Out of about 20 people who filled out the survey, 30% said compensation packages were their top reason for leaving. About 15% picked promotional opportunities.
Shanks said this survey is helpful in looking at ways to retain staff, but not everyone fills it out, and the survey has staff pick these reasons out of a list.
Shanks said it may be essential to look at increasing compensation, especially as Panasonic becomes harder to compete with down the line.
She said this would be her last year as HR director, and the district is already planning next steps.
The board also saw a draft of the new district strategic plan. The district promise is for every student in Eudora to be known by name, strength and need, and graduates are prepared for the future they choose.
Some of the initiatives included in the plan are:
- Expand opportunities for career exploration, work-based learning, industry-recognized credentialing and college coursework obtainment.
- Increase internships, work-based learning and job placement opportunities through employer partnerships.
- Involve families in understanding and supporting their child’s strengths and needs through individual plans of study, partnerships and conferences
- Increase participation in co-curricular activities
- Expand opportunities for students to take on leadership roles within the school community
- Develop and maintain comprehensive individual plans of study profiles for each student that highlight their strengths, interests and areas needing support
- Enhance practices to publicly recognize students for their achievements, contributions and growth.
This plan will likely be adopted at the September meeting.
Progress on these goals will be available on the school’s website under Our Promise.
In other business, Jamie Grado, assistant principal at the elementary school and director of the summer academy, shared information on how this year’s program went.
The academy took field trips to Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, a bowling alley, the pool, the Giving Garden, Feeding Eudora and more. Grado hopes to expand the field trip offerings by eventually having a small fee for student participation, she said. Adding that cost could also offer more supplies to teachers running the camp, she said.
“I’m not asking for anything extreme. It’s just, I think, kind of keeping in mind, currently around $5 to $7 per student kind of limits us,” she said,
There were about 370 campers, 62 staff members and 16 instructional days with students. This is the third year for the program, and Grado thanked the board for its support of this project. The number of campers this year is slightly lower because of school constriction and only using the elementary building, she said.
The board discussed an agreement for clubs seeking money for national competitions. This will be voted on at a later time.
Clubs included in the funding are FCCLA, FBLA, HOSA, Skills USA, Science Olympiad, Debate/Forensics and any others the board deems eligible. Sponsors and coaches will also have lodging, meals and transportation funded.
- $1,000 for 1-5 students
- $2,000 for 6-10 students
- $3,000 for 11-15 students
Construction at the middle school is almost done, with the new front entrance complete and staff starting to move back into the space.
Work on the new auxiliary gym and the new classrooms at the high school are also moving along.
The new playground at the elementary school has been installed, but crews still have to install the rubber surface beneath so the area is not yet open. It will be done in time for school, Moeckel said
Work on the Early Learning Center is almost done, as well.
In other business, the board is proposing keeping the mill rate the same as last year, but will plan to exceed the revenue neutral rate.
Moeckel said the rise in valuation of about 10-12% on average has helped keep that mill rate.
Because larger graduating classes have been leaving the district, although the number of students could be smaller, that also means less funding for the schools, Moeckel said. Lowering the mills could not be a good long-term decision because it would mean raising them down the line when larger classes begin to come through again, he said.
The board approved the publishing of its notice to set a budget and revenue neutral rate hearing for Sept. 12 before the regular meeting.
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected].
