OWENSVILLE — The Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education on Monday night approved further measures to encourage staff retention, and new staff applications.

The board approved newly hired teachers to bring their years of experience with them to the negotiations table.

According to Gasconade County R-2 Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy, the move would be a good one, encouraging experienced staff to apply in the district without creating a terrible financial burden.

“It’s about .3 percent of our budget,” Hardy said about the cost difference it would be to implement the new measure.

The board approved the following measure with a 7-0 vote, “Allowing newly hired certified staff to bring in all their years of teaching experience on the salary schedule and allowing certified staff to verify their previous years of teaching to move with them to the step that reflects their years of experience.”

School districts across the state have struggled to attract new teachers and each year more positions are declared “critical shortage” to allow individuals not certified in the subjects to fill the space. Many boards are becoming more creative in the incentives to attract and retain help.

The board approved a declaration of critical shortage employment for a 2024-25 director of business operations with a 7-0 vote.

Hardy also noted no one has applied for the Parents As Teachers position.

“One thing in changing time — this position has to go into homes in the evenings,” Hardy said. “There are not many willing to take on that roll as a parent educator.”

Hardy said the reason for the evening hours that come with the position is because that is when most parents are home. Parents As Teachers assist parents as their child’s first teacher to meet growth and learning milestones.

The board of education also reminded guests and administrators last night that they have changed the meeting time for approved 2024-25 monthly business to be discussed.

The next board meeting will be at 6 p.m. on July 15 at the Administration Building.