This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
12/04/2017 11:00 PMWith two notable personnel vacancies—that of assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, following the promotion of Erica Forti to superintendent of schools, and school business manager, following the resignation of Jim Farrell amid controversy—Forti and Board of Education (BOE) members recently discussed a possible reorganization of the school system’s central office.
At the BOE Finance Subcommittee Meeting on Nov. 28, Forti presented job descriptions to the board for assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction (her former position) and a new position chief of finance and operations.
The assistant superintendent oversees personnel and programs such as building principals, adult education, and preschool programs. Forti said that quickly filling the vacant position would demonstrate an emphasis on student learning, though concerns about filling the finance role led the BOE to pursue a more cautious approach.
The chief of finance and operations position arose from previous BOE meetings at which members discussed having two finance positions instead of one in the wake of Farrell’s resignation. The other position would be a finance manager.
The finance manager would remain a union job, as was the business manager position, but some of that position’s responsibilities would fall on the proposed chief of finance and operations role, a non-union position. Some of that position’s responsibilities would include oversight of the finance manager, technology, food services, transportation, and grounds.
However, nothing was set in stone at the Nov. 28 meeting. Some BOE members had questions about the assistant superintendent and chief of finance and operations positions, such as how they’d fit in the budget and where the money for them was coming from.
A candidate for the finance manager was recommended for hire at the regular BOE meeting on Nov. 28, but BOE members wanted to see if they could directly ask questions to make sure the candidate is a good fit and can effectively use the software systems in the business office.
A special meeting to discuss those positions was recommended by Forti and scheduled for Dec. 4 (after press time). Forti said during the meeting that she’s currently operating without a team around her, and it’s difficult to do that.
The Business Office Now
In the meantime, Richard Huot has been hired to oversee the business office in an interim capacity. Huot said he has 50 years of experience in education; the first 13 as a teacher before transitioning into business office roles.
He said he’s worked in districts throughout Connecticut, and has been doing interim jobs since he retired from Darien in 2013. He’s been in the business office in East Haven since October, and said he’s been busy, with one of the reasons being that the internal process of the 2018-’19 budget has begun.
Huot told the board that because of the way the office tracks payroll, which is about 55 percent of the budget and subject to “constant changes,” that “getting a handle on that has been interesting.”
He said he’s been going along trying to keep track of everything, which also includes helping two new hires to the business office over the past few months to get acclimated. Huot said a payroll position was filled in August and an accounts payable position was filled a few weeks ago.
“They’re working out very well,” Huot said, “They don’t have school experience, but they are responding very, very well.”
Change in Leadership for BOE
With changes in central office to be discussed, there were also changes in BOE leadership at the Nov. 28 meeting. Michele DeLucia was voted in as chairman, taking over the role from John Finkle. Christine Maisano was selected as vice-chairman, and Samantha Parlato will serve as secretary.