Officials flag staffing shifts, relocation-stipend turnover and uncertain state funding

Human-resources staff told the board the district is seeing an expected wave of retirements among long-serving employees, particularly in school food service, and some resignations tied to prior grant losses and plant closures that reduced local revenue. Personnel director Miss Wer said she reviewed multi-year data and judged the current separation numbers to be consistent with recent trends, but warned that if the pattern continues in the next personnel report the board should be concerned.

Miss Wer noted a 2024 cohort of 31 hires who received relocation stipends and agreed to a two-year commitment; 15 of those employees have left. Exit interviews cited commute burdens and expanded prep workloads as common reasons for departures. The personnel office said principals are continuing interviews and hiring to fill vacancies and will report further hires in coming months.

Separately, district leadership said they are reapplying for a federal grant (previously administered through Education, now through the Department of Labor) and expect to know award status in September; they said how much funding, if any, the district may receive is still unknown. Superintendent Eloy also summarized a governor announcement proposing to take about $160 million from the state’s MFP and reallocate it toward teacher and support raises; staff warned that MFP dollars currently support district general funds and said the proposal would require a legislative supermajority to enact and could materially affect district budgets if approved.