Crowley ISD highlights staffing improvements, ongoing vacancies and $2M potential personnel savings

Dr. Pam Berry presented the district’s beginning‑of‑year staffing update and tied staffing choices to the district’s financial picture. Berry said the district’s certified teacher fill rate was strong—reported at around 97.8%—and highlighted progress reducing the number of core-area teacher‑in‑residence positions.

Berry described multiple strategies to address vacancies in hard-to-fill areas, including recruitment events and partnerships with alternative certification programs (ECAP, ITeach, Texas Teachers of Tomorrow). She said the district filled several positions during the recent hiring fair and is supporting candidates to complete certification requirements. "We had over 23 individuals [at the job fair] and we filled five of those spots," Berry said.

The presentation reviewed staff‑optimization steps—reviewing central office vacancies, tightening department release periods and balancing staff across campuses. Berry estimated that, if staffing adjustments hold and no positions are re‑added, personnel actions completed this year could translate to about $2,000,000 in potential savings. Trustees asked for retention figures for staff completing certification and for additional detail about special-education vacancies and the plan to staff them.