My reflections
A message from Superintendent Dr. Jones
Thank you for sharing your comments with me about current budget reductions.
My resolution is to continue to keep you informed through the weekly COMMUNICATOR and to have dialogue with you face-to-face, voice-to-voice or electronically via the blog or email.
Two issues...
that I have heard the most about involve the personnel decisions for hiring an assistant superintendent for administrative services and a rumor that Mrs. Janet Ware, current GHS principal, is having a position created for her for next school year.
Position of Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services
As you may recall, last June I made the decision to not fill this position because of budget reductions that had to be made.
Since then, I have had the opportunity to reassess staffing of central office and the alignment of duties and responsibilities. I currently have the opinion that the assistant superintendent's position should be filled next school year. Just like your school's assistant principal handling multiple issues, there is a need for an assistant superintendent to help handle the multiple issues that will affect the school system and our community for years to come.
This is just the first in a series of steps that will help me better align the central office to support you. I'm fully aware that central office is under scrutiny; that some believe that the central office staff is too big; and that maybe reductions can be taken. Currently certain positions aren't being filled as persons retire.
Rumor...
has it that Mrs. Ware is moving to Central Office and will have the same salary that she currently has.
Neither is true. We're not moving Mrs. Ware to Central Office nor are we planning to pay her at her current salary.
The rest of the story is that I will make a recommendation to the board of education in January that Mrs. Ware be appointed as the principal of our alternative school next school year. Her salary will be adjusted accordingly.
So I close with these comments.
Please know we continue to look at our responsibilities as a central office staff to support you; that we're trying to become leaner; we are doing our best to be effective and efficient.
In this race to the top and in my desire to see our school system lead the state in student achievement, there are some decisions that need to be made that may initially not be what you think is in the best interest of the school system. I am looking at the long run, and I believe that it is best for us to have these positions filled as we move forward. I hope you agree with me. If you don't, I hope you better understand the decisions that I have made and the recommendations that I'll be making to the board. Thank you.
Happy New Year! See you January 6th!
