By David Vitrano
L’Observateur

RESERVE—A reorganization plan is currently being implemented within the central office of the St. John the Baptist Public School System, according to Supt. Courtney Millet.

Under the restructuring, the current hierarchal structure of the office would be replaced by one that offers more of a support role to schools, principals, teachers and, ultimately, students. To achieve this goal, a number of positions within the central office have been redefined, consolidated or removed altogether. Restructuring in this manner has the added advantage of saving the district about $300,000 annually, according to Millet.

“Our school system is not about me or those who work in central office; it is unequivocally about those working in the schools, about our students and student success,” said Millet in a report presented to the school board on Thursday.

The reorganization will attempt to create a “climate of cooperation and support” and “create a visible presence in the schools,” according to the report, by eliminating the disconnect Millet currently sees between the central office and the schools.

Millet said she came up with the plan based on a number of factors including extensive research and her experience in her first year as superintendent.

Unfortunately, a scheduling snafu stopped the plan from gaining the official approval of the board as it was listed on the agenda before the approval of three new hires within the central office who were already listed on the plan.

The three hires—Coordinator of Federal and State Programs Page Eschette, Coordinator of Pre-K, Kindergarten and Response to Intervention Ondena Farlough and Coordinator of Media Communication Heidi Trosclair—ultimately gained the approval of the board, but a pair of board members cast dissenting votes in each instance.

Although he congratulated the central office’s newest employees and said his “nay” votes were nothing personal, Russell Jack said, “I cannot vote ‘yes’ when I have reservations.” He explained he believes fair procedures were not always followed and wants to investigate the matter further.

Albert Burl III echoed Jack’s sentiments and added he thought the choices for the positions were already made even before the positions were advertised. He also expressed reservations about eliminating the chances for upward mobility within the central office and thought this might lead many to move on to other districts when employees sought promotion.

When the vote to waive policy, which would have allowed the board to vote on the reorganization plan after approving the new hires, came up, Burl again cast a dissenting vote, effectively killing the matter until next meeting. Motions to waive policy must be passed by a unanimous vote.

Still, Millet remained undeterred, saying, “I plan to operate under the same guiding principles that are in this plan.”