INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – In an effort to save the School District nearly $250,000 and streamline administration, incoming Schools Superintendent Dr. Fran Adams has eliminated several positions.
Those posts include the Deputy Superintendent and the Public Information Officer, which combined cost the district more than $212,000.
The Indian River County School Board unanimously and without debate approved Dr. Adams’s proposed administrative organizational chart Tuesday evening.
Board member Carol Johnson did thank both Dr. Adams and out-going Superintendent Dr. Harry La Cava as well as her fellow board members for having discussed the chart at length during round table sessions.
She added that she appreciated Dr. La Cava allowing Dr. Adams to move her proposed chart forward.
Under Florida statutes, Dr. La Cava has the right to present his own chart for the School Board’s consideration. However, after getting feedback from the board members that their preference was to have Dr. Adams create a chart, he stepped aside.
During prior round table sessions, School Board members raised concerns about the elimination of the Public Information Officer post, noting that the district receives numerous requests for information from the public on a regular basis.
Dr. Adams told the board during those discussions that she believes an employee in Human Resources could be tapped to handle such requests – as the work is mostly clerical in nature.
As for putting the word out to the public about the goings on at the district, Dr. Adams said that those district departments generating the news would be asked to put together press releases and send them out to the public.
Board member Karen Disney-Brombach, during discussions, referred to the Public Information Officer post as “under-used and sorely needed.” She said she would rather have the position retooled than eliminated.
Though board members did suggest Dr. Adams reconsider that position, Johnson said she would support Dr. Adams’s recommended chart as she did when Dr. La Cava first took the helm of the district.
“For you to be successful,” Johnson said during the discussion, the School Board must support what Dr. Adams believes she needs.
School Board Chair Matt McCain agreed.
“I want to give you a fighting chance,” he said.
Though Dr. Adams’s organizational chart calls for eliminating certain positions, it also calls for adding a post – a budget analyst.
Dr. Adams told the board that the budget analyst would assist the Assistant Superintendent of Finance – currently Carter Morrison – in preparing and analyzing the budget and assist with other financial needs.
Dr. Adams has also recommended hiring an Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Risk Management. That position would serve to replace the currently vacant Risk Management Director post.
With the administrative chart approved, the next step is for the Schools Superintendent to appoint employees to the positions.
Administrative Chart By the Numbers
To Be Eliminated:
Deputy Superintendent – $132,719
Public Information Officer – $79,541
Network Analyst – $92,324
Risk Manager (currently vacant) – $101,874
Secretary – $53,318
Savings: $459,776
To Be Modified:
From Executive Director HR/School Improvement to Executive Director of HR – $6,179
From Director of Staff Development/HR to Director of Secondary Ed./Staff Development – No Change
Replace CIO position with Executive Director of Instructional and Information Technology – No Change
Savings: $6,179
To Be Added:
Assistant Superintendent HR/Risk Management – $132,719
Budget Analyst – $85,000
Total Expense: $217,719
Net Savings: $248,236
*Numbers rounded to nearest dollar
