Good Evening

1

Good Evening.Good Evening.

2

Administrative Hiring “Freeze”Administrative Hiring “Freeze”

3

The ProposalThe Proposal

1.1. It is recommended that the Board of It is recommended that the Board of Education direct the administration to Education direct the administration to freeze (or stop) any further hiring of freeze (or stop) any further hiring of executive professional staffexecutive professional staff for central for central administration until this freeze is formally administration until this freeze is formally lifted by the Board.lifted by the Board.

4

The Proposal, cont.The Proposal, cont.

2.2. The administration is directed to provide The administration is directed to provide the Board with written documentation to the Board with written documentation to justify any planned administrative hiring justify any planned administrative hiring by by linking those positions directly to linking those positions directly to student achievement.student achievement.

5


3.3. The Board further directs that the The Board further directs that the administration shall seek to provide administration shall seek to provide recommendations to the Board for recommendations to the Board for finding finding additional resources to redirect to the additional resources to redirect to the school buildings, including increasing school buildings, including increasing staff pay.staff pay. The administration shall have The administration shall have such recommendation within 30 days.such recommendation within 30 days.

6


4.4. This hiring freeze is not intended to stop This hiring freeze is not intended to stop the hiring of school building the hiring of school building administrators or positions dealing with administrators or positions dealing with the bond issue. The freeze the bond issue. The freeze does include does include purple packet and other contractual purple packet and other contractual administrative hires.administrative hires.

7

FirstFirst

Hiring freezeHiring freeze

of all executive / professional staffof all executive / professional staff

in central administrationin central administration

8

QuestionsQuestions Hiring “Freeze”Hiring “Freeze”

– Add no new positions?Add no new positions?– Add no new people?Add no new people?

What constitutes “central administration”What constitutes “central administration”– FOTCFOTC –– Human Resources Human Resources– Print ShopPrint Shop –– Procurement Procurement– TechnologyTechnology –– Instruction Instruction– Business / PayrollBusiness / Payroll

9

ConcernsConcerns ““Swiss Cheese” effectSwiss Cheese” effect

– Not only affects current openingsNot only affects current openings– But, as people leave, the positions that are left unfilled are But, as people leave, the positions that are left unfilled are

based on the “luck of the draw”based on the “luck of the draw”– In other words, there is no design to the “freeze” / no logic In other words, there is no design to the “freeze” / no logic

to it – we could lose all of HR, for example, due to to it – we could lose all of HR, for example, due to retirement or resignation while other departments are left retirement or resignation while other departments are left untouched for the time beinguntouched for the time being

– Or, technology could lose several programmers or others Or, technology could lose several programmers or others who keep our network up and running for the whole system who keep our network up and running for the whole system – schools included – with no ability to fill those positions– schools included – with no ability to fill those positions

– As critically, this leaves the Instruction department As critically, this leaves the Instruction department (supposedly our core mission) with at least four, present (supposedly our core mission) with at least four, present key vacancieskey vacancies

10

ConcernsConcerns, cont., cont. No end in sightNo end in sight People left behind shoulder “double or triple work”People left behind shoulder “double or triple work” Central staffing is already reduced from previous Central staffing is already reduced from previous

years’ reductionsyears’ reductions Exacerbate the “flight” from these positionsExacerbate the “flight” from these positions Dramatically affects our service to schools and the Dramatically affects our service to schools and the

classroomclassroom Self-fulfilling prophecy- express expectations of Self-fulfilling prophecy- express expectations of

central services, then reduce so we have fewer people central services, then reduce so we have fewer people to do the same amount of work, quality and quantity to do the same amount of work, quality and quantity decrease, can’t meet expectations, further reductions, decrease, can’t meet expectations, further reductions, and so forthand so forth

11

ConcernsConcerns, cont., cont.

Doesn’t allow superintendent a chance to Doesn’t allow superintendent a chance to work with central staff to improve service work with central staff to improve service and consider if service can be provided a and consider if service can be provided a better waybetter way

Sends a message to central staff that they Sends a message to central staff that they are unnecessaryare unnecessary

Exhibits lack of understanding of the work Exhibits lack of understanding of the work there is to do to keep the district operatingthere is to do to keep the district operating

Don’t know what you don’t knowDon’t know what you don’t know

12

ConcernsConcerns, cont., cont. ““Freeze” now, ask questions later – without Freeze” now, ask questions later – without

regard for effects on the organization or its regard for effects on the organization or its ability to performability to perform

Shoot first, ask questions later approach that Shoot first, ask questions later approach that appeals to a sound-bite, anti-administration appeals to a sound-bite, anti-administration bias in all of us (the people we all “love to bias in all of us (the people we all “love to hate”)…hate”)…

That is short sighted at best with long-term That is short sighted at best with long-term negative effects from which the District will negative effects from which the District will not soon recovernot soon recover

13


Executive / professional category includes Executive / professional category includes positions like: positions like: – Technology (answering schools’ ”help” calls, keeping Technology (answering schools’ ”help” calls, keeping

the network going, trouble shooting the system)the network going, trouble shooting the system)– HR (hiring, assisting teachers and principals, HR (hiring, assisting teachers and principals,

addressing schools’ concerns)addressing schools’ concerns)– Executive directors and others in Instruction Executive directors and others in Instruction

(continuing to support teachers and principals, RtI, (continuing to support teachers and principals, RtI, CQI, accountability, student achievement)CQI, accountability, student achievement)

– OtherOther To name a few…To name a few…

14

SecondSecond

All future hiresAll future hires

to be linkedto be linked

directly to student achievementdirectly to student achievement

15

QuestionsQuestions

How direct is direct?How direct is direct?– Payroll?Payroll?– Technology?Technology?– Communications?Communications?– Grounds?Grounds?– Maintenance?Maintenance?– Transportation?Transportation?– Superintendent?Superintendent?

16

ConcernsConcerns Reflects lack of understanding of the need for positions that are Reflects lack of understanding of the need for positions that are

indirectlyindirectly related to student achievement, but necessary due to related to student achievement, but necessary due to fulfillingfulfilling– Support and infrastructure needsSupport and infrastructure needs

PayrollPayroll Budget BudgetProcurementProcurement HiringHiringRecordsRecords Charter school support Charter school support GrantsGrants Risk managementRisk management FacilitiesFacilities Maintenance of the network Maintenance of the network TransportationTransportation Warehouse Warehouse BoundariesBoundaries

– State requirements and reportsState requirements and reports– Federal requirements and reportsFederal requirements and reports– Board requirements and reportsBoard requirements and reports– Other …Other …

So the schools can do their job of teaching and learningSo the schools can do their job of teaching and learning

17


Basically saying that we will not be able to Basically saying that we will not be able to replace in theses areas because we will not replace in theses areas because we will not be able to make the case for a “direct link” be able to make the case for a “direct link” to student achievementto student achievement

Central staff perform many, many functions Central staff perform many, many functions so schools don’t have to and can so schools don’t have to and can concentrate on student achievementconcentrate on student achievement

18

ConcernsConcerns, cont., cont. Most of these support functions are Most of these support functions are

“invisible” to schools, the Board, the “invisible” to schools, the Board, the public – but, they allow the schools the public – but, they allow the schools the freedom to do their jobs and concentrate freedom to do their jobs and concentrate on students and parentson students and parents

Most efficient and cost-effective way of Most efficient and cost-effective way of operation – one central office instead of operation – one central office instead of 65 schools performing each of these 65 schools performing each of these operations themselvesoperations themselves

19

ThirdThird

Within 30 daysWithin 30 days

Find additional resourcesFind additional resources

To redirect to schoolsTo redirect to schools

Including increasing staff payIncluding increasing staff pay

20

ConcernsConcerns

Supply and other central budgets already Supply and other central budgets already reducedreduced

The only real source of revenue is peopleThe only real source of revenue is people Comprises 85% of our budgetComprises 85% of our budget So, this is a direction to reduce positions So, this is a direction to reduce positions

and people at a faster rate than a “freeze” and people at a faster rate than a “freeze” alone would accomplishalone would accomplish

21


Again, centralized services take tasks away Again, centralized services take tasks away from the schools that are necessary, but from the schools that are necessary, but which are which are indirectlyindirectly related to student related to student achievement (which flies in the face of the achievement (which flies in the face of the notion that central office positions have to notion that central office positions have to be directly related to student achievement)be directly related to student achievement)

22

ConcernsConcerns Doesn’t do away with “the work” – must go Doesn’t do away with “the work” – must go

somewheresomewhere Just shifts who does “the work”Just shifts who does “the work” Assume that “the work” shifts to schoolsAssume that “the work” shifts to schools Which means that, instead of (the formerly) Which means that, instead of (the formerly)

central resources going to increase staff central resources going to increase staff pay, it will go to hiring additional staff at pay, it will go to hiring additional staff at schools to do the work that is no longer schools to do the work that is no longer being performed centrallybeing performed centrally

23


Terribly inefficient way to do businessTerribly inefficient way to do business

24

FourthFourth

Includes “purple packet”Includes “purple packet”

And “contractual”And “contractual”

StaffStaff

25

ConcernsConcerns Typically, temporary hires for specific projectsTypically, temporary hires for specific projects A hiring “freeze” here affects many, many A hiring “freeze” here affects many, many

projects that directly affect the classroom and projects that directly affect the classroom and student achievement likestudent achievement like– RtIRtI– Charter school supportCharter school support– GrantsGrants– CommunicationsCommunications– OtherOther

Again, who does the work?Again, who does the work?

26

To Be Clear…To Be Clear… Not arguing against being as efficient as Not arguing against being as efficient as

possiblepossible Not arguing against providing schools and Not arguing against providing schools and

classrooms the best service possibleclassrooms the best service possible But are concerned about how we do things But are concerned about how we do things

the smart waythe smart way– Using CQI more systematically at the central Using CQI more systematically at the central

levellevel– Aligning ourselves horizontally and verticallyAligning ourselves horizontally and vertically

27

To Be Clear…To Be Clear… We are no more a federation of unrelated, We are no more a federation of unrelated,

independent departments anymore than the independent departments anymore than the schools should be a federation of schools should be a federation of independent sitesindependent sites

Rather, we are a system – that needs to be Rather, we are a system – that needs to be aligned, efficient, customer-services basedaligned, efficient, customer-services based

With all of us understanding our niche in With all of us understanding our niche in the delivery of services to students and the delivery of services to students and parentsparents

28

Concerned about inconsistent Concerned about inconsistent messages tonight…messages tonight…

On the one hand…On the one hand… Better service to schoolsBetter service to schools Tantalize school staff with Tantalize school staff with

promises of better pay by promises of better pay by cutting people centrally cutting people centrally and “giving” schools the and “giving” schools the moneymoney

Demand more Demand more communication and other communication and other from Superintendentfrom Superintendent

Yet…Yet… Cut the people who Cut the people who

deliver the servicesdeliver the services While ignoring the While ignoring the

necessity to now use that necessity to now use that money to increase school money to increase school staff to do the work that staff to do the work that has previously been has previously been performed centrally, but performed centrally, but now has shifted to themnow has shifted to them

Taking away the Taking away the opportunity to have staff opportunity to have staff who would help meet who would help meet Board’s demandsBoard’s demands

29

Concerned about inconsistent Concerned about inconsistent messages tonight…messages tonight…

Putting forward a plan Putting forward a plan under the guise of an under the guise of an “administrative” “administrative” freeze and reductionfreeze and reduction

Putting in motion a Putting in motion a site-based plansite-based plan

That is really a move That is really a move to decentralize the to decentralize the district – is really a district – is really a full site-based planfull site-based plan

When the research When the research overwhelmingly overwhelmingly supports a strong, supports a strong, centralized approach centralized approach to improve student to improve student achievementachievement

30

I have put forward, I have put forward, within the budgetwithin the budget, a plan to , a plan to significantlysignificantly– Improve student achievementImprove student achievement– Align instructional services to schoolsAlign instructional services to schools– Integrate CQI into instructionIntegrate CQI into instruction– Put our money where our mission is Put our money where our mission is – Improve internal and external communications (two-Improve internal and external communications (two-

way) including promoting the districtway) including promoting the district– Address customer concernsAddress customer concerns– Improve human resources functions identified by BoardImprove human resources functions identified by Board– Maintain current level of service to charter schoolsMaintain current level of service to charter schools– OtherOther

31

Plan is in line with overwhelming research that Plan is in line with overwhelming research that says that a strong central approach is essential to says that a strong central approach is essential to moving a school district with our demographics moving a school district with our demographics forward in student achievementforward in student achievement

Not to mention the business efficiencies of Not to mention the business efficiencies of centralizing (indirect) servicescentralizing (indirect) services

Which is the opposite direction from that proposed Which is the opposite direction from that proposed in this motion for a site-based organizationin this motion for a site-based organization

32

We were tasked last time with bringing We were tasked last time with bringing forth the research that supports a central forth the research that supports a central approachapproach

And for that we have:And for that we have:– Dr. Terry Bishop, Deputy SuperintendentDr. Terry Bishop, Deputy Superintendent– Dr. Jane Armstrong, Education Commission of Dr. Jane Armstrong, Education Commission of

the Statesthe States

Documents

Good Evening