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applicants.”

Douglas County has 52 teacher openings currently, which is similar to the number of openings last year, 59, but has had fewer applicants for the openings compared to last year, Kane said. Kane added that more candidates are declining job o ers than last year.

Other positions have seen a more signi cant increase in openings. Last year, the district started with 75 open bus driver positions and 98 open education assistant roles. is year, the district is short 104 bus drivers and 155 education assistants.

Kane said the shortages mean the district has had to rely more on substitute teachers, contracting with third-parties for transportation for special education students and instituting rolling cancellations of bus routes.

“It means an increased work load for our employees because when you’re down a teacher, all the other teachers are trying to pick up the slack left behind,” she said.

In an e ort to address hiring and sta retention, the school board approved ballot language for a $66 million mill levy override at the Aug. 8 meeting. e money would go to increasing pay and bene ts, as well as adding security sta .