| Patsy Bueno |
With retirements, contract non-renewals and people leaving for other employment, Carbon School District’s administrative department will look different by the end of the summer.
Superintendent Patsy Bueno knows what it is like to work in schools while changes are taking place and what a burden jobs can be if the positions are not structured properly. So during the past few weeks, she has been working with the board of education to change some positions and create some new ones.
“For the last few years before I became superintendent, I worked as the supervisor over kindergarten through grade 12,” she said in an interview on Wednesday. “I know that job is overwhelming and I don’t want someone else to face that. So we have decided to split that job up into two positions, one for the secondary schools and the other for elementary locations.”
The shuffle will place Judy Mainord as the secondary supervisor in the district.
Mainord has been handling various duties as the district’s administration has shrunk in the past couple of years.
Mainord will shed most of her other duties to concentrate on the secondary supervisor’s responsibilities as soon as some other positions are filled.
In addition, Jan Cox will be moving into an elementary counselor’s position that is being vacated by a retiring employee. Cox has been overseeing the Lighthouse program,
Principal Robert Cox will be moving from Carbon High to take on a myriad of duties at the district level.
Programs Cox will be managing include adult basic education, youth in custody, Carbon County youth detention, safe and drug free schools and student services.
“That list isn’t really limited because of the extent of the duties he will have,” said Bueno. “It will be a big job.”
Presently in his ninth year as principal at Carbon High, Cox indicated that he is excited, but knows he has a lot to learn.
“Certainly, there is some apprehension about the move,” said Cox. “I am actually feeling a little overwhelmed. I spent a couple of days at the district office going over things and I know how good the people I will be working with are. When you get into a groove like I have with this job, it’s hard to move out of your comfort zone. I am sure there will be different stresses there than here, but I am definitely excited about this opportunity.”
The district has already posted nationally the open positions of elementary supervisor and high school principal.
“That doesn’t mean we won’t be interested in those that are already with the district, but we want to find the best people for these jobs,” said Bueno.
Once the elementary supervisor’s position is filled, the district will post the job of principal at Castle Heights Elementary. Bill Bate has been serving as principal in a temporary capacity for most of the current school year.
The district is also looking at hiring a human resource director.
“We have been discussing that with the board and we are looking at all the particulars of doing that,” stated Bueno. “In the past, most of the personnel issues have been handled by the district supervisors. But with new grants we have to administer and new federal regulations and laws pertaining to education, supervisors just don’t have time to deal with all the issues that come up in that area. In addition, the laws and regulations concerning personnel have become so complicated we need someone who has a background in that area to handle those problems and concerns.”
The proposed position will be a part-time job.
“We already have had so many changes at the district level, but these addition ones will add to our ability to serve students and staff,” concluded Bueno.