Two of the district’s three vice principal positions will be eliminated
By John Tredrea
To begin chipping away at an estimated budget shortfall of $600,000 to $800,000 for 2006-2007, the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to implement an administrative restructuring plan recommended by Superintendent Judith Ferguson.
The changes, which Dr. Ferguson said will save the district an estimated $200,000 next year, will take effect July 1, 2006, the first day of the district’s next fiscal year.
Two of the district’s three vice principal positions, at the Hopewell and Stony Brook elementary schools, will be eliminated under the restructuring.
Under the plan, the vice principal post at Hopewell Elementary, currently held by David Bailey, will be eliminated.
"Mr. Bailey is welcome to stay on as an elementary teacher. We love his work," Dr. Ferguson said Tuesday.
Several Hopewell Elementary parents told the board Mr. Bailey has done great work at their school.
"He does a terrific job," Susan Watsko said. "I hope we can find a way to keep him."
Also under the restructuring, Stony Brook Principal Kate Napolitano would fill a new districtwide position, director of instruction. The districtwide staff development specialist position would be abolished along with the vice principal position at Stony Brook. Steve Wilfing, current vice principal at that school, would become acting principal after Ms. Napolitano moved to her new job.
The administrative restructuring also includes changing the titles and job descriptions of grades six-12 subject area supervisors to K-12 subject area supervisors in language arts, science, math and social studies.
The title and assignment of director of athletics, filled by Kiki Enderle, will be changed to director of athletics six-12 and subject area supervisor for wellness.
The title and job description of public information officer, held by JoAnn Meyer, will be changed to director of communication and development. There would be no pay increase.
"There will be a new emphasis on grant-writing and fundraising in that position," Dr. Ferguson said, adding that Ms. Meyer already has begun moving in that direction.
The superintendent credited Ms. Meyer with landing a $6,000 grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb to pay for the district’s calendar. The grant was accepted Monday night.
Driving the need to make these and other changes, Dr. Ferguson said, is a state law (S-1701) enacted in July 2004. S-1701 places budget cap restrictions on administrative costs and other areas. Cap restrictions limit the percentage by which districts may increase an annual budget line item, such as administration, over that of the preceding year.
Other moves that may be taken in the months ahead to cover the anticipated shortfall include more staff cuts and program cuts, Dr. Ferguson said. Existing programs may be redesigned to save more money, she added. No lists spelling out what staff or program cuts might be considered in the future are available now.
The superintendent stressed that her recommendation to restructure the administration had "nothing to do with the quality of the work of people involved, and everything to do with building greater efficiencies" so that the district can be in compliance with S-1701.

