MIDDLEBORO — Only five educational positions remain unfilled for the upcoming school year, a significant decrease from the numbers last year at the same time, Superintendent of Schools Carolyn Lyons told Middleboro School Committee members at their July 20 meeting.

“We’re close to fully staffed,’’ she said.

Positions still to be filled include a special education teacher at Middleboro High School, an English language arts teacher and an education support professional at Nichols Middle School and two education support professions at the Memorial Early Childhood Center. 

Several non-education positions are available, she said, including an assistant cook and bus drivers and dispatchers.

She noted that with the recent closing of the Christmas Tree Shops and the subsequent loss of 232 jobs in the Middleboro warehouse, these open positions could serve as a way for those workers to get a toehold in the district if they were interested.

She credited the drop in open positions to early postings, which she said leads to early appointments.

Resignations are also down this year, from 61 to 35, and retirements have dropped from 15 to 10, Lyons told the committee. 

Committee chair Rich Young expressed his appreciation for the generosity of the Christmas Tree Shops, whose ownership has supported athletic teams and other school items through the years, he said. The Bilezikian family, the company’s founders, was especially generous, he said. 

“It’s sad to see them go,’’ he said of the company.