D-49 tweaks central office organization

The Falcon School District 49 school board on Thursday turned two of its top administrative positions into contract jobs.

The board reclassified Deputy Superintendent Mary Guinn, along with Chief Education Officer Becky Carter,  as independent contractors. The jobs had been permanent, full-time positions within the administration.

The change "pushes performance" and eliminates some benefits costs, said Board Treasurer Andy Holloman. He said he didn't know of other districts that had made similar changes for administration positions.

Superintendents, too, customarily are employed under a contract with the school board.

The D-49 board wasn't done with making changes to its organization chart. The board removed a layer of management between itself and the transportation, technology, nutrition services and maintenance departments.

Board Secretary Tammy Harold voiced concern that the board would end up micromanaging those operations.

D-49 Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway said he thought complaints or concerns about those services would be brought to the Business Office first, keeping the board out of the details. He said he would bring examples of such situations, and potential responses, to next month's board meeting.

Ridgway himself was the object of the board's evening of reorganization. Before the meeting, his title was district finance director. He left the meeting as the chief business officer.

With the new title come added responsibilities: human resources and communication. And a raise, of $25,000.

But because top HR and finance positions have been eliminated, the move saves the district  about $280,000 a year, said spokeswoman Stephanie Wurtz Meredith.

In other action Thursday, the board certified the closure of the high school portion of Rocky Mountain Classical Academy. Not all students will be attending D-49 schools in the fall, said Kim McClelland, iConnect innovation leader.

Changes to Vista Ridge High School graduation requirements also were approved. While the number of required credits decreased, the school is still in line with high-performing schools across the state, said Bob Felice, assistant superintendent/innovation leader.