The Dover school district posted a list of open positions that will best help alleviate its staffing issues.

Superintendent William Harbron in a letter on Friday said vacancies in a number of positions has a great impact on the day's operations and services offered to students. Positions in the district with openings including teachers, substitute teachers, paraeducators, bus drivers, food service personnel and custodial and maintenance staff.

"School administrators work diligently each morning to find substitutes for classes in need of coverage. With the lack of substitutes this has been a challenge," Harbron wrote in his letter. "Administrators are working to find alternative solutions for students that will provide them with a productive instruction day."

The superintendent said despite the positions being advertised there is a lack of applicants. New Hampshire has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country at 3% as of August which has contributed to worker shortages across all fields.

Dover school buses
Dover school buses (Dover School District)
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Incentives and signing bonuses aren't working

Another challenge facing the district is getting students to school as a bus driver shortage continues despite incentives and signing bonuses being offered to new drivers. Harbron said routes have been combined which delays the arrival at school.

During a briefing before the school year started the Karen Holden, vice president of the New Hampshire School Transportation Association said that the shortage is unprecedented.

Holden told the New Hampshire Journal in August that many drivers who left during the pandemic because of their own child care and healthcare concerns never returned.

"If you are interested or know of someone who may be interested, we encourage you to apply," Harbron said.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH

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