The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) announced its progress in employee retention, as well as substitute teacher and substitute special education assistant (SEA) fill rates.
Comparing data for the 2024–25 school year (through Dec. 31) to that of 2023–24, turnover declined among several key employee groups, including teachers (down from 12% to 7%), supportive education employees (down from 13% to 5%), food service workers (down from 17% to 9%) and bilingual resource specialists (down from 12% to 6%).
MMSD said that increased recruitment and retention is attributed to:
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Salary enhancements and adjustments, including the hiring of a compensation analyst position, introduction of a substitute teacher bonus program, and increased SEA pay rate;
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Improved customer service;
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Continued adoption of technology; and
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A streamlined hiring process.
Compared to the first semester of the 2023–24 school year, fill rates for substitute teachers have improved from 75% to 84%; for substitute SEAs, the increase has been more significant, rising from 48% to 73%.
The importance of the community’s support of MMSD’s operations referendum in November helped to support increased compensation, hiring, and retention. Owing to the measure’s passage, district staff received a full 4.12% wage increase — the maximum allowable under Wisconsin law — for the 2024–25 school year.
