With the addition of two new hires at Monday’s board meeting, Pike County Schools is nearly fully staffed for the start of the school year next week.

The district hired 17 people. According to Superintendent of Schools Mark Bazzell, all but three positions – two Goshen Elementary School pre-k teachers and one virtual high school teacher – all of the positions were existing ones.

“We have finished up all of our hiring for the summer with the exception of one position,” said Bazzell. “We’ve been fortunate with the quality of the candidates this year.”

The board approved hiring Anna Lee as Goshen High School’s new guidance counselor and Sherry Wilkes as Pike County High School’s new business teacher. The board tabled an open history teacher position.

“We hope to have somebody by the end­ of the week,” Bazzell said.