On March 9th, the School Board acted on Superintendent Mark Taylor’s recommendation to update the hiring policy for teachers and non-licensed support staff. This is a giant step forward for the Division. It is expected to significantly speed up hiring and contract renewals, but will NOT affect the background check process.
The move is a prudent business decision that will allow us the agility and efficiency we need to better attract and retain talent. The labor shortage continues to be a major challenge nationwide. SCPS must engage candidates quickly to compete in this extremely competitive environment. Updating our policy will also allow us to improve compliance with state and federal mandates, especially in special education.
The School Board’s actions underscore the severity of our situation. Members are to be commended for taking this important step to better serve our students, teachers, and staff.