Duplication of services

As the district accelerates to build new facilities and cuts curriculum and staff in our current buildings, the superintendent and the board approved the creation of a new administrative position, “Construction Project Manager,” at a base salary of $69,500/year. As stated by the physical plant director, this individual “will be an advocate for the district” and will represent the physical plant director.

We hope that the physical plant director and his two assistant physical plant directors, as well as all physical plant staff, are jealous advocates for the district already. But as evidenced at board meetings, it seems all too often that the physical plant director is an advocate for himself, his staff, his vendors, and contractors, but not for the district’s bottom line.

When this physical plant director was hired, we were told about all of his construction experience and how he would provide the needed expertise that we were lacking going forward in renovating our older buildings and building new ones. But it seems we need to look closer at what was really accomplished in Des Moines and where we are headed here.

Increasing staffing does not seem to be increasing efficiency. It is yet to be proven that this position will provide us any savings if our board and administration are willing to pay for the mistakes and shortcomings of vendors and contractors paid to provide quality goods and services.

Maybe we could start by requiring administration level staff reside within the district which they are paid to serve. The daily commute to and from Des Moines could be better spent advocating for district needs than watching Iowa countryside go by.

-- Phil Hemingway