Latest news with #staffing
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mahtomedi school board adds second referendum question to fall ballot
Voters in the Mahtomedi school district will be asked to approve two referendum questions during a special election in November. In April, the school board set a referendum for a series of facilities improvements. Now it has voted to approve another referendum question that will ask taxpayers to increase the school district's existing operating levy of $1,570 per student to a larger levy of $2,145 per student. The additional $575 per pupil, which would start in the 2026-27 school year, will help maintain class sizes, sustain academic programming and strengthen financial stability, said Superintendent Barbara Duffrin. 'Like most school districts in Minnesota, we are facing challenging budget times due to multiple budget pressures and inflation,' Duffrin said. Among the increases in costs the district is facing: health insurance premiums for staff have increased by more than 11 percent and bus transportation costs have increased by 25 percent. Other factors: State funding has not addressed increased inflationary costs and partially funded legislative mandates put a demand on already limited funds, district officials said. Staffing, which is about 75 percent of the district's budget, is another budget pressure. 'With the current workforce shortage, we need to remain competitive in retention and hiring,' Duffrin said. Substitute teacher costs also have increased in both inflation and usage, she said. Finally, enrollment in the district has been generally flat, and birth rates in Washington County have decreased, she said. The board in April approved placing a $28 million referendum question on the Nov. 4 ballot. The money would be used to fund facilities improvements that district officials say will benefit safety and security, academics, performing arts and athletics. Among the proposed improvements are a new front entrance at Mahtomedi Middle School and other safety and security improvements. Mahtomedi High School would get a 'hallway circulation' remodel, choir and band classroom improvements, new mechanicals, a weight room addition and safety and security improvements. Athletic Field 1 would get new turf and lights. The referendum also would pay for safety and security improvements to Wildwood and O.H. Anderson elementary schools and disability access and seating improvements at the Chautauqua Fine Arts Center, among other projects. 'Our priority is to ensure that the excellent opportunities in academics, activities, arts and athletics continue,' School Board Chairwoman Stacey Stout said Wednesday. 'We want our students to achieve strong learning outcomes and are well-prepared for success after graduation.' The tax impact will be $200 a year, or $16.66 per month, for Question 1 (operating revenue) and $182 a year, or $15.16 per month, for Question 2 (facility improvements), based on a house valued at $500,000, the average price of a home in the district, according to district estimates. If both measures are approved, property taxes on a $500,000 house would rise about $382 a year. The district, which has about 3,200 students, serves Willernie, Mahtomedi, Dellwood, Pine Springs and portions of Hugo, Lake Elmo, Grant, Oakdale and White Bear Lake. Forest Lake detours begin as MnDOT undertakes $17M Highway 97 reconstruction project Forest Lake School Board hears input on possible contentious policy changes artOPENer Studio Tour hits 19 St. Croix Valley stops Bayport couple found dead in home; natural causes determined Stillwater: Water Street Inn's Chuck Dougherty named Lumberjack Days parade grand marshal Mahtomedi Public Schools officials plan to host six community referendum learning sessions this summer and fall for district residents to learn more about the two-question referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot. The sessions will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Mahtomedi High School Media Center on July 16, Aug. 6, Sept. 9, Sept. 23, Oct. 7 and Oct. 29. For more information, go to
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Major change coming to Tesco stores as company trials new opening hours after Rachel Reeves' tax raid
TESCO is trialling new opening hours in a major change following soaring costs after Rachel Reeves' tax raid. The supermarket is testing out new hours in a bid to cut staffing costs. 3 Workers were told that a few of the Tesco Express stores which don't rake in as much cash will be the testing grounds. These Tesco stores will shut an hour earlier, at 10pm instead of 11pm. They will also have fewer staff working during these hours, The Telegraph reported. It is understood that the trial is only taking place in a "small number" of stores, but the exact number is unclear. A spokesperson said the shake up is to ensure the shops are being run in the "most efficient way". The move comes after Tesco's chief executive said that the supermarket is facing a wave of soaring costs following the Chancellor's tax raid in April. Tesco said it was facing a rise in staffing costs, in part due to a £235m increase in National Insurance contributions and the rise in minimum wage. The chain previously warned it would be axing £500million of costs to tackle this. Retailers are believed to be facing around £7billion in extra costs following the Budget. A Tesco spokesperson said: "These changes aren't visible to our customers, who will continue to receive the same great service they expect, and there are no changes to the range of products we sell." The basic wage for workers aged over 21 increased from £11.44 to £12.21 — instantly hiking staffing costs. But most firms are more concerned about the dramatic changes to employers' National Insurance Contributions, which will make hiring even tougher. Companies have warned that the changes are to drastically impact part-time workers, soon to become 13 per cent more expensive overnight. The contributions will go up from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent from April 6, but the main impact comes from lowering the threshold it starts being paid at from £9,000 to £5,000, roping in many more part-time staff. One FTSE chief executive told The Sun that it was 'completely the wrong strategy for the Government to be pursuing if they want to encourage more people back into work with flexible jobs'. Meanwhile, a slew of reports suggest companies are already cutting jobs, freezing hiring and preparing to hike prices, with inflation predicted to hit 3.5 per cent later this year. 3
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
FAI determination calls for review of staffing of maternity units at weekend
A fatal accident inquiry into the death of a newborn baby has recommended that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde should review staffing levels across all shifts to ensure that its labour wards are 'adequately staffed' at the weekend. Freya Murphy was born on July 21 2018 at 9.31am in Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow, and died there on July 28, aged seven days and 12 hours old. The cause of death was given as global ischemic brain injury associated with acute chorioamnionitis, and a fatal accident inquiry was held at Glasgow Sheriff Court in November. First-time mother Karen Murphy, 32, from Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, and husband Martin Murphy, called for several recommendations to be made, including screening for Group B Streptococcus (GBS). However sheriff Barry Divers said that there were 'no defects in any system of working which contributed to Freya's death' and said the death 'could not realistically have been avoided'. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said in a statement that the care was 'below the standards expected' and that a recommendation had already been adopted. The sheriff's determination made recommendations that the health board should review staffing levels across all shifts to ensure that its labour wards, post-natal wards, maternity assessment units and other hospital maternity related areas are adequately staffed at the weekend and in the evening. The measure was to have provision in the case of an emergency where two patients require admission to theatre at the same time, for the opening of a second operating theatre. It also recommended that the health board should formerly request that the United Kingdom National Screening Committee (UKNSC) give urgent consideration to a review of whether pregnant women routinely be offered screening for GBS. If such a review is under way, then a copy of this determination should be provided to the UKNSC for consideration, according to the determination. The determination said: 'It was clear on the evidence that all those clinicians (doctors and midwives) who spoke to their involvement with Freya, were motivated in their actions by doing what they thought was best for Freya and Mrs Murphy. 'It was obvious during their evidence that Freya's tragic death has left a mark upon each of them in different ways which will last for the rest of their professional careers and beyond. 'For the reasons I have explained, I have not been able to make all the findings or recommendations which they sought. 'However, I hope that the entirety of this FAI process, including the preparation for the evidential hearing, the evidence which was led, the submissions made and this determination, has at least addressed the questions which they have about what happened. 'It was suggested that the adoption of routine screening for GBS would be a suitable tribute for Freya. I understand why that submission was made. 'However, if I might respectfully say, I do not consider that would be accurate, even if it were to happen. 'The real tribute to Freya is the obvious love carried for Freya by her mother and father, which love has no doubt been passed on to Freya's siblings.' Dr Claire Harrow, deputy medical director for acute services at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: 'We would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the family of Freya Murphy, and once again to apologise for the distress they have experienced. 'The care Freya received fell below the standards expected and for this, we are very sorry. 'We have received the findings from the FAI. The recommendation for NHSGGC on staffing has already been implemented. 'In line with the recommendation on Group B Streptococcus, we plan to make a formal approach to United Kingdom National Screening Committee.'
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Countdown on for 2025 ski season as first operators begin to open doors
Mt Hutt is not ruling out opening next weekend if conditions play ball. Photo: NICOLE HAWKE The countdown is on for the 2025 ski season with a North Island ski field opting for a soft launch this weekend while snow guns are blazing down in the south. Staffing and accommodation shortages have hampered ski fields in recent years, but operators said their luck had turned around and scores of people had applied to work on the slopes. Nestled on Mount Ruapehu, Tūroa Ski Area was ready to open its cafes and offer snow play and sightseeing on Saturday. Chief executive Jono Dean said people could enjoy a day in the snow before the snow bunnies started hitting the slopes next month. "There's a little bit of snow in and around bottom of the mountain just in the base area, which is really exciting and it's a good precursor to what we think is coming next week, which looks like a nice, healthy storm to get the snow off and running for 2025," he said. "As we start to snow on the ground and snow on the forecast, we'll be progressively opening lifts and facilities over the coming month of June and we anticipate readiness for the 28th of June and the start of the school holidays." The ski area had almost 1200 applicants for 200-250 jobs and was fully staffed. "It's actually a real blessing against previous years where we have really struggled in our part of the world for availability of staffing and, of course, skilled staffing," he said. In the South Island, Cardrona Alpine Resort's new Soho Express chairlift opens this season, offering 150 hectares of new terrain. Cardrona and Treble Cone Experiences general manager Laura Hedley said they had been hard at work over the warmer months to get the ski fields ready. Speaking on Friday afternoon with snow falling outside her window, she was feeling positive for the season ahead, especially with a strong group of staff - half of whom were returnees. There was less pressure on finding accommodation as they had a 120-bed backpackers they renovated about three years ago to fall back on and rentals were not quite as hard to come by, she said. "We've got staff, they've got good accommodation and we've got all these upgrades. I'm touching wood that it's going to be a good season and that mother nature comes and helps us as well." Mt Hutt was expected to lead the charge and open its slopes on Saturday after receiving more than a metre of snow in April. NZSki chief executive Paul Anderson earlier said he was pretty confident it would stick around but those hopes were dashed by nor-wester winds. "The snow around the base area just wasn't enough to get access to the lifts so we wanted to give it every chance and we threw everything at it but that early season snow can disappear early," he said. Anderson was not ruling out opening next weekend if the conditions played ball, but said Mt Hutt could always fall back to its original opening date of 13 June. Further south around Queenstown, the picture was not looking so promising earlier in the week, but he said some good wintry weather had settled in so it could crack on with snowmaking. NZSki had invested in three new groomers, about $750,000 on improving its rental equipment, more 4WD buses in Queenstown and about a million dollars spent on snowmaking across the mountains, Anderson said. After a bumpy few years for staffing, it had a record staff return rate and plenty of newcomers which he put down to people feeling more confident travelling here with memories of border closures fading and tougher economic times meaning more people were looking for work. NZSki had previously taken the plunge into accommodation, buying a hostel and offering just under 100 beds. It had also built apartments for staff and planned to build another 12 in the coming years, he said. He believed some landlords might be getting tired of offering short term rentals and putting them back onto a fixed tenancy basis, which had also eased the pressure. Looking at the forward bookings, the Queenstown slopes were getting plenty of aroha from locals and Australians, he said. The Remarkables celebrates its 40th birthday this year, and Paul Anderson said there would be a 1980s themed party in late spring so people should prepare their perms, straight skis and retro ski suits. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Horizon CEO touts recruitment push, says nurse vacancies down to 61
A recent hiring spree has set Horizon Health up well for staffing, according to CEO Margaret Melanson, who says staffing-based closures are no longer an issue.
