AISD Freezes Hiring for Elementary Schools

It's hard to face it, but the economy is affecting Austin. The Austin Independent School District has recently announced a hiring freeze for elementary school teachers because it has more than enough staff on hand to fill any open positions. A hiring freeze has also been placed for nonessential administrative employees, though the district is still hiring middle school and high school teachers.

The executive director of HR for AISD, Pam Hall, told the Statesman that it's the first time in four or five years that the district has had this high of a surplus of employees. Hall told the Statesman that the economy is likely causing fewer people to leave the job, which would create room for new employees. "Usually, we get a surplus, and with resignations and retirements, things fall into place. This time, it's not appearing that things are going to fall in to place," Hall told the Statesman. Fortunately, she said nobody would lose a job.