Massive Overhaul of School District Administration Team Near Complete

Come the start of 2013-14 school year, the Greenfield School District might have to consider a “meet your administrators” day.

That’s because there will be a whole lot of new faces or old ones in new places.

The massive shakeup of the central office staff that began when former superintendent Conrad Farner resigned in January will continue throughout the summer.

Lisa Elliott will officially take over her duties as the new superintendent July 1, the same day Amy Kohl takes over as the director of business. But that’s just the beginning.

Approximately a week after assistant superintendent Todd Bugnacki became the third top administrator to resign in five months, the district decided to eliminate Bugnacki’s former position as part of a complete overhaul.

The district will also cut the assessment coordinator position, and create separate director of pupil services and director of human resources positions, the former of which was awarded to Dr. Monica Warnke, who had been the district’s special education coordinator and a part-time psychologist.

That’s not all. The district will also elevate its previous 4K-5 and 6-12 curriculum coordinators to director positions. Former district literacy coordinator Charity Eich was promoted to Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment 4K-5, and the latter position will be filled in the coming weeks.

In addition, the district plans to hire a director of educational technology, and a third psychologist to fill the void created by Warnke’s promotion and a previous retirement.

“I like the reorganization and I'm excited to see a flowchart because I haven’t seen one for years,” School Board member Cathy Walsh said.

The shakeup is expected to cost the district about $26,000 more annually. The rest of the costs have been absorbed by the elimination of positions, and the technology position will be funded through fund balance money over the next four years.

“It’s a big plus on reorganization with very little cost,” said interim business director said Ronald Nortier, who added he anticipates the clerical staff getting reorganized in the near future as well.