Oswego School District 308 officials are continuing efforts to fill a large number of vacant positions at all levels, hiring 32 employees since the start of November.

Since the start of the 2021-2022 school year in August, Superintendent John Sparlin has repeatedly called upon the community to apply to help fill the district’s vacant positions, ranging in roles from special education to custodian.

“We’ve engaged in a very large media campaign to recruit people to the district,” Sparlin told the Board of Education at its Nov. 15 meeting.

On Nov. 4, 9, and 11, the district hosted open interview forums for potential candidates, resulting in the hiring of many new employees, according to Sparlin.

Data provided by the district showed that a total of eight substitute teachers and 24 staff members have been hired since Nov. 1, including two building nurses, 11 teacher’s assistants, two technology specialists, one bus driver, one bus monitor, one crossing guard, one custodian, one dean of students, one dean’s assistant, a transportation dispatcher, one district painter/assistant maintenance technician, and one registered behavior specialist.

“We still have a ways to go,” Sparlin said.

Additional open interviews were held Nov. 16, and the district’s Human Resources department reported a total of 185 vacant positions, as of Nov. 17.