[email protected] News Photo by Crystal Nelson Alpena Public Schools Executive Director of Human Resources Matt Poli, Human Resources Generalist Raelyn Wilber, and Human Resources Administrative Assistant Leslie Reynolds converse recently at the district’s Central Office. ALPENA — A growing number of Alpena Public Schools employees have either resigned or retired over the past five years. Nine employees retired or resigned in 2015. This year, 68 had left as of Sept. 21, according to information The News obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. Three letters of resignation approved by the school board in September indicated the employee resigned because of COVID-19 or the way the pandemic had impacted his or her life, according to documents The News obtained through FOIA, but most departures are because of cyclical retirement trends, district officials say.