Another Close Vote: Board Adds Assistant Principal Post for Dr. Julian Rogus School
Plus, new fifth- through eighth-grade social studies proposal adopted.
We take a look at some of the other items approved and discussed at the April 6 Summit Hill School District 161 Board meeting.
The request: Creating an assistant principal position for Dr. Julian Rogus School for the 2011-12 school year.
What it means: The new position would replace the kindergarten principal position being vacated by Nan Clinton, who retired this year. However, the new post would oversee the entire school, not simply the full-time kindergarten, and although the scope of the job would be larger, the position would come at a cost savings because it wouldn't be a full principal position, said Board President Sean William Doyle.
Any comments by the board or public? Board members Mary Kenny and Joy Murphy voiced concerns over adding the new post, claiming that the board might have to cut it eventually as a way to hold down costs.
"Looking at the financial position of the district, I would hate to eliminate this position two years down the road," Kenny said, adding that the board should take more time to look into the matter.
Murphy also questioned the need for that position given that Rogus's enrollment isn't seeing an increase. She suggested the board look at using a teacher-leader instead.
Doyle said a teacher-leader wouldn't have the same authority and privileges that an assistant principal would have. An assistant principal would also give the school more flexibility with how it used that position, he added.
How did it pass? 4-3. Doyle, Ken Balcerzak, David J. Macek and Dee Molinare voted in favor. Kenny, Murphy and Denise Lenz voted against.
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The request: Approval of new social studies curriculum for fifth through eight grade.
What it means: The proposal would adopt new teaching strategies and textbooks for social studies education for students in fifth through sixth grade. The cost of the new curriculum would be about $147,000.
How did it pass: Unanimously.
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The board also announced the start of online registration for students, which runs May 2-31.
Parents can log in at www.studentregistration.org and use their same passwords from last year. This is the third year for online registration for the district.
Registration fee is $150. There is a $25 late fee per family after 12:01 a.m. June 1. Payments can be made online, but parents also can pay in person with a cash or check.
What do you think about the new assistant principal position at Dr. Julian Rogus School?
Tell us in the comments.
nick
2:09 pm on Thursday, April 7, 2011
Just another administrative position created for the school system, with so many administrators the teachers are a minority in the school building.
Just a Resident
2:37 pm on Thursday, April 7, 2011
They are not replacing the Kindergarten Principal with another high paying principal but rather an assistant principal at a lower pay thus saving money. I do worry about Ruffalo taking on an additional 300+ kids and his ability to manage such a large school.
Denise Wildeveld
5:30 pm on Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Lizzy I have confidence that Mike Ruffalo would be able to handle the challenge of overseeing the kindergarten wing as well as the rest of the school. With having a teacher leader as proposed by Joy Murphy and Mary Kenny you could have a principal in training as well as the support Mike would need. The current principal makes over $101,000.00 plus benefits. If you went with a teacher leader they would be paid a stipend and would save the district over $90,000. When the economy gets better we would already have a asst. principal trained. In these trying times we all need to work a litte harder to make sure things get done. There has already been cuts that effect the children of this district. There is no reason the administration shouldn't take on some of the burden as well. And let's not forget they all just received a 2.1% raise on top of their 6 figure salaries.
Just a Resident
12:30 pm on Wednesday, April 13, 2011
I do believe that "forcing" Mrs. Clinton to retire was not a good thing for the kindergarten children. I personally don't think that was a wise cost saving cut that was made. But what do I know, I just pay my taxes so the board can decided what to do with it without any imput from the parents. Like cut a principal who truly loves those children so the savings can be redirected to Mr. Pain and his over inflated salary along with every other administrator.
Just a Resident
12:59 pm on Wednesday, April 13, 2011
And you can't say that Mr. Ruffalo isn't getting a bigger raise due to taking on another 300+ kids. So when you factor in his raise, an assistant principal salary AND raises across the board for all administrators and Keith Pain, please tell me where the savings is???? There is none!!!
Denise Wildeveld
3:48 pm on Wednesday, April 13, 2011
There is no savings if you hire an asst principal, at all, the raised stick because of the current board. I was talking about hiring a teacher that is already employed no extra cost except a stipend for the extra support for mike ruffalo as for forcing Nan Clinton out I don't know about that, she is retiring
nick
3:00 pm on Thursday, April 14, 2011
The grade school I went to (K through 8th) had a Principal, two Secretary's, one nurse and two custodians. Six people to run the whole school. Nowadays most school's have too many administrative personnel. How many tax payers out there went to a grade school with assistant Principals, Deans and Councilors? The tax payers are being ripped off.
Denise Wildeveld
4:47 pm on Thursday, April 14, 2011
I agree with you nick, we also did not have a District Office filled with people making 6 figures. Here is where this district could recoupe alot of its money back. No more cuts that effect the kids. And District Office would not effect the kids.
Concerned Citizen
10:34 am on Tuesday, April 19, 2011
How does a principal get "forced" out in the first place? Why didn't the board or superintendent protect her to begin with? Or wait...did the entire board even know the truth as to why this happened? Mr. Pain certainly did and did nothing to support her! Saving her salary for the sake of what she brought to the kindergarten program is NO savings at all. Mr. Ruffalo has a huge responsibility on his hands by trying to run the program the way Mrs. Clinton has. I can only hope for the sake of the children that he will sit back, administer from a distance and let the teachers teach him how things have been handled and then learn from them. 99% of the kindergarten staff is committed to educating our children and beyond wonderful in making certain this happens. 1%....One teacher in general should have the doubts of many, but the parents have let her manipulate them and their children. However, that's an entirely different topic. So I ask again, How does a principal get "forced" out of her job to begin with?