Farmington School Board approves cabinet changes
Assistant superintendent position eliminated
Farmington Schools Assistant Superintendent Christine Weymouth resigned her position weeks ago, and the School Board eliminated that position on Monday as part of a restructuring plan suggested by Superintendent Jay Haugen.
Also eliminated was the director of teaching and learning position and two teacher-mentors who provide district-wide support to district staff.
One of those positions focused on technology integration and the other was dedicated to secondary literacy.
As part of the change, Boeckman Middle School Principal Barb Duffrin will become the director of educational programs and will support professional development.
She will work closely with Haugen to write grants and provide instructional and technology support.
New positions are also expected to be developed, and Haugen said the new structure works better for the district to implement its new strategic plan, a process that was led by Duffrin.
Board Member Tim Burke said the plan allows for more flexibility and cooperation between the district office and school buildings and replaces the former top-down command structure.
Although Burke said he supports that concept, he and Board Member Melissa Sauser voted against structure changes.
Burke said he wanted the director of educational programs to be a person from outside the district with experience working inside such a structure.
“I would rather learn from someone else’s mistakes than make them ourselves and learn the hard way,” Burke told Sun Thisweek.
In an interview, Sauser said she was concerned the changes did not cut district costs.
She said residents are concerned staffing cuts are coming from the schools and include maintenance workers and secretaries, but no cuts have happened at the district offices.
“I feel like we need to reduce money from the district office,” Sauser said.
The new positions are expected to be in place by the 2013 school year; the district is seeking a new principal at Boeckman Middle School.
Laura Adelmann is at laura.adelmann@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.
