Frederick County staff report steady vacancies, plan deeper tracking of resignations

The Frederick County School Board Personnel Committee heard March 9 that the division continues to carry multiple vacancies and is expanding its tracking and recruitment efforts to keep classrooms staffed.

Rachel Rinker, who delivered the staffing update, said the division currently lists nine instructional‑assistant vacancies, eight of them in special education, and that many teachers fall in the zero‑to‑two years of experience band. "We have nine vacancies right now, eight of which are special instructional assistants," Rinker said, adding the division will break those out by assignment in coming reports.

Rinker also presented a four‑year fiscal‑year view of turnover and said staff had received 18 resignations as of Feb. 27 for the current school year; final turnover rates for the fiscal year will be available when the year closes on June 30. She told the committee staff will report departure reasons and trend data monthly to help target retention strategies, and board members asked for breakdowns by pay, benefits and family reasons.

Staff and board members described recent recruitment activity: a teacher recruitment fair drew 39 registrants and generated six contingent offers, and at least one hire was recruited from outreach at James Madison University. Rinker said the division plans continued campus recruiting and job fairs through the spring.

Committee members supported a new set of "stay interviews," in which staff will visit schools and ask employees why they remain with FCPS to inform retention work. "Face to face, we get really authentic responses," a board member said, endorsing the approach.

The packet also included a brief update that staff are in final negotiations on a Human Capital Management system and will present a contract recommendation in April.

The committee approved the meeting agenda at the start and adjourned by voice vote at the end of the session.