Platte County is retaining its certified staff at a higher rate than the state average according to a report by assistant superintendent Dr. Rob Gardner at the Platte County Board of Education meeting on Thursday, March 15.
Gardner reported nearly three quarters of Platte County’s certified staff are remaining in the district for five years, the statewide average is less than 50 percent.
“Most teachers go in and they are out in five years, they quit,” Gardner said. “When we look at three-year retention rates for the state 64 percent of teachers are retained. At year five it’s 40 percent that are retained. If you compare that to Platte County’s rate, in my opinion, the rate is astounding. I would argue that if we’re hiring the right people this is telling us we’re doing that because they’re staying. Three out of every four are staying.”
The board received an update on the human resources strategic plan put in place to meet one of the board’s goals of attracting, developing and keeping qualified staff.
The report also stated that 80 percent of staff are satisfied or very satisfied working for the Platte County School District. However only about half of staff members responded to the survey.
“Our job is to recruit develop and retain high quality staff,” Gardner said. “In order for us to gauge our progress we use a lot of survey data, to tell where we are at in regards to is our staff satisfied, are they engaged, do they feel respected are we providing professional development for their growth.”
An exit survey provides the district with some answers as to why staff members leave the district. A quarter of departing staff members selected personal reasons in the exit survey while No. 2 on the list was a tie between retirement and career advancement with 18 percent each. Termination and dissatisfaction with the work environment were each selected 14 percent off the time. No departing staff selected salary or benefits.
“Every time we get a letter of retirement or resignation we ask them to select a reason because we want to know,” Gardner said. “It’s important to know how well we’re doing at attracting, developing and retaining staff.”
Also at the meeting
The board extended its contract with OPAA! for food service. This is the final renewal before the contract must be opened back up for bid.
Pathfinder physical education teacher Joe Masciovecchio was awarded the March SCHIVIR Me Timbers staff recognition after volunteering to DJ a pair of dances at the school.
BRYCE MERENESS/Citizen Staff
Pathfinder Elementry physical education teacher Joe Masciovecchio, center, was honored as the March SCHIVIR Me Timbers recipient. Joining him is Pathfinder principal Dr. Devin Doll (left) and Andy Hall, director of information services.
Dr. Jay Jones and Brian von Glahn were recognized as February SCHIVIR Me Timbers winners. Jones and von Glahn lead the music programs at Platte County High School and both took student groups to the Missouri Music Educators Association conference after invitations to perform at the state conference.
The board also approved tuition rates for the Northland Career Center and Great Beginnings preschool. The rate at Great Beginnings is slated to increase $70 per month to $300 a month, a move Superintendent Dr. Michael Reik said puts the district more in line with the market.