CISD reorganization under way

July 06, 2008 05:11 pm

— The reorganization of Cleburne ISD’s central administration has begun.
The district posted a job opening on Tuesday for its new executive director of human resources position, the position held by retired Assistant Superintendent Carolyn Cody.
Superintendent Ronny Beard, who started his position Tuesday, has changed the HR position from an assistant superintendent’s post to an executive director.
Dr. James Warlick, who served as interim superintendent, will handle human resources in an interim capacity until an executive director is appointed.
“We need to fill that position because it’s one that’s critical now, so he is going to be the interim assistant superintendent for HR,” Beard said Tuesday.
The district is also searching for a chief financial officer and an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
“We believe the expenses to the district for the overall restructure will be minimal,” Beard said. “The human resources position will now be at the level of executive director.
“We will not be replacing the position of executive director of special projects. The duties within that department will be absorbed by other central office administrators,” he said. “This allows many of the costs that would have been allocated to the special projects department to be used in funding the new positions.”
Dr. Sharron Miles, the former executive director of special projects retired Monday, and her daughter Amy Martin, who worked as CISD’s homeless and migrant liaison, resigned effective July 31.
Beard said the district has a lot of work ahead to hire all the replacements, but it will ultimately benefit the district.
“I think that the new structure for the central office will create an atmosphere conducive to student achievement and the success of the district,” he said.
Beard, who comes to Cleburne from Sweetwater ISD, said he strongly believes the district’s curriculum program needs a lead administrator.
“Instruction is what we are all about,” he said. “I feel the coordination of curriculum and instruction needs to be at the assistant superintendent level. I think the establishment of this position, and the reorganization within that department, will have a major impact on what we want to see accomplished in the areas of academics, student success and instructional support.”
The position of chief financial officer will carry the same authority as an assistant superintendent, with the same level of responsibility, Beard said.
“The chief financial officer will maintain all the checks and balances recommended by the Texas Education Agency, Texas Association of School Business Officials, the district’s attorneys and the CISD board of trustees,” he said. “We will be looking locally and statewide for someone to oversee the changes put in place in our accounting department to implement a fail-safe system that will ensure that not one dime will be misused in this district ever again.”
Assistant Superintendent Mike Bailey, who Beard described as having a list of responsibilities “a mile long” will continue to oversee district operations. His duties include school nurses, school safety and emergency management, transportation, construction and ongoing improvement projects, food services and the maintenance of all district properties.
Beard announced his tentative plan for the central office’s reorganization at a special called June 26 school board meeting. Since then, the district has worked to ensure the reorganization goes as smoothly as possible.