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13 <br /> focused on supporting, retaining, and recruiting staff. She said to make further progress, more <br /> people need to be brough to the district. She said the budget request is still not fully sufficient <br /> for everything that is needed. She said student and staff mental health is a huge need. She said <br /> if there are opportunities, hopefully they can leverage partnerships for teacher and staff mental <br /> health support. <br /> Michael Sharp said that teachers have been asked to perform a monumental task. He <br /> said that when thinking about the teachers that have chosen to leave the profession, they have <br /> to think about that not only has it been overwhelming, but the added attention of public scrutiny <br /> has increased. He said that there is a domino effect that when teachers resign, remaining <br /> teachers still have to make sure that all that work gets done, which exacerbates the problem. <br /> He said that in retaining, they need to maintain competitiveness, but also need to be fully <br /> staffed across the board. He said that they need to look at whaty their true needs are. He said <br /> that they want to make sure that Orange County remains the premier destination for teachers <br /> and families moving to the area for the best schools. He said CHCCS is also in partnership with <br /> HBCUs like NC Central, and are working on the TA to Teacher program. He said that this will <br /> improve diversity hires as well. He said they are doing more support of student-teachers, <br /> including networking for them so they can look for job opportunities here. He said they are <br /> trying to identify talent in the high schools and Grow Your Own sort of programs within that. He <br /> said that these will make an impact on recruitment, but retention will need assistance from the <br /> budget. <br /> Will Atherton thanked the commissioners and Sportsplex for free Sportsplex <br /> memberships and said he has heard positive feedback from teachers. <br /> Commissioner McKee asked if 2/3 of the EC teachers have left. <br /> Michael Sharp said he was using that as an example. <br /> Commissioner McKee asked what percentage of teachers left last year in each school <br /> system. <br /> Rani Dasi said it continues to change, but CHCCS can report back with that data. She <br /> said that is a tough question and they are seeing the impacts of other districts that are offering <br /> $6,000 hiring bonuses. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he would have thought the data would be ready since it is a <br /> big deal. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said she spoke to the the CHCCS SNAC Chair recently and there <br /> were 24 vacancies for EC and 60 for general education in CHCCS. She said there were also <br /> EC TA vacancies. <br /> Commissioner McKee said that information is helpful. He said knowing the percentages <br /> helps him quanitify the need. He said he would like to know the percentages that have left the <br /> schools in the last year. <br /> Rani Dasi said she wasn't prepared for details today, but will provide them at the budget <br /> presentation. <br /> Carrie Doyle said in 19-20 there was a 19% attrition rate, and 20-21 that was reduced to <br /> 12.5%. She referenced the below images: <br />