Groveport Madison Local Schools are revamping their administrative organizational set up.
"We need to restructure for efficiency," said Superintendent Scott McKenzie at the Groveport Madison Board of Education’s Dec. 10 meeting.
By a split vote of 3-2, the board approved a new administrative organizational chart that institutes a deputy superintendent/chief of staff who would report to the superintendent. Reporting to the deputy superintendent would be the building principals and the existing administrative positions of director of school improvement and director of special education and pupil services, as well as a newly created position of business manager.
The business manager position would handle transportation, technology, food service, and maintenance, pulling those functions away from other administrative chains of command.
"I realize in this time of economic crunch that the created position of business manager may seem less than frugal," said McKenzie. "But the experience of whoever takes this position would be worth its weight in gold in savings and efficiency."
The business manager position is not yet filled and the salary for the job has not been set.
Included in the vote on the organizational chart were two year contract renewals at an annual salary of $98,099 for Director of School Improvement Susan Briggs, Director of Personnel Kevin Scott, and Director of Pupil Personnel, Facilities, and Maintenance Mike Beck. The new contracts reflect a reduction in salary for Scott and Beck according to Treasurer Anthony Swartz. Previously they were paid $107, 347 annually. Board President Dr. Naomi Sealey stated Beck and Scott took the reductions voluntarily in light of the district’s tight financial situation.
Board members Sealey, Mary Tedrow, and Duane Dailey voted for the measures while John Kershner and Nathan Slonaker opposed them.
Marching band honored
The board approved a resolution of appreciation for the Groveport Madison High School Marching Band’s achievements, which included receiving a superior rating at the state band competition in Dublin on Oct. 31. At that competition the band received a top score from all six judges.
"We have great kids, wonderful parents, and a supportive administration," said Band Director Sarah Brown. "For 19 of the past 19 years we have gone to state and in 15 of those years we’ve received a superior rating."
She said this year 100 bands qualified for the state competition, but only 27 received top ratings from all six judges.
Brown also implored the board not to make further cuts to the band and music programs.
"We need to remember they’re kids," said Brown. "We need to remember that it’s the arts that make us human and nurture these young people’s souls throughout their lives."
Other Groveport Madison news
•The board awarded a high school diploma to Harold Buxton, who had left Groveport Madison High School in order to serve in the Vietnam War.
•The board approved a resolution of appreciation for State Representative Larry Flowers, who will be ending an eight year run as representative of the 19th Ohio House district on Dec. 31. The resolution recognized Flowers’ efforts on behalf of the school district and overall community.
•McKenzie said the State Auditor’s Office will conduct a facilities audit for the district which will explore:
•current and future enrollment;
•present day space utilization;
•current and future space utilization rates to predict and consider grade configuration options; and
•project future facility needs.
