School board approves first steps of reorganization

At its meeting on April 18, 2011, the Mt. Lebanon school board approved the first steps of superintendent Dr. Timothy Steinhauer’s proposed reorganization of top staff positions. The board made five appointments.

Dr. Deborah Allen’s appointment was extended for an additional two years. Under the new plan, she will become the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education.

Dr. Ronald Davis, currently the high-school principal, will become the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education.

Brian McFeeley, the principal of Mellon Middle School, will replace Davis as the high-school principal.

Peter Berg, currently the Supervisor of School Counseling, will become the High School Dean of Students, another new position.

Greg Wensell, currently the Supervisor of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Business and Information Technology, will become the principal of Jefferson Elementary School. Wensell will replace Mike Schnirel, who is retiring.

Sources in the school district say the reorganization is expected to make the district run more effectively. Lines of communication will become clearer, and the resources to solve problems will be placed closer to the people working on those problems.

Superintendent announces school-district reorganization (Updated 2)

Updated 2011-04-05 23:55 with additional links.
Update 2011-04-06 14:52: Referred to Jo Posti answering some questions about the reorganization.

In an interesting change (shake-up?) at the school district, superintendent Dr. Timothy Steinhauer announced a reorganization of some top spots.

“These changes are designed to improve student learning, communication, coordination, and consistency throughout the District,” Dr. Steinhauer wrote.

Under what is being called the “first step” of the reorganization, there will be two changes:

One: “The reappointment of Dr. Deborah Allen in a new role as the Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education and the appointment of Dr. Ronald Davis as the Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education.”

Two: “By the start of the 2013–14 school year, all curriculum supervisor positions will be eliminated. Individuals currently holding these positions will be able to move into other positions within the District over the next two years.”

It’s not clear what the next steps of reorganization will be. For now, the superintendent is “asking for patience” and promises to have more information after the April 18, 2011, school-board meeting, at which the school board is expected to vote on the announced changes.

I wonder what’s coming up.

Update: On her blog, Center Court, school-board president Jo Posti has answered some questions about the reorganization. They are:

• When will other positions impacted by the reorganization be announced?
• Is this announcement a reaction to the District's current or future budget situation?
• Will there be staffing changes within the teaching staff?
• Why now?

The answers are not particularly direct or informative. Still, one thing did catch my eye:

Once the plan is fully implemented, there will be a significant savings to the District, ...

Interesting.

Also reporting on the reorganization:

• Letter from Dr. Steinhauer (Lebo Citizens Blog)
• Reorganization Announced (Center Court, the blog of Jo Posti, president of the school board)
  
• Questions About The Reorganization (Center Court, the blog of Jo Posti, president of the school board)