On April 4, 2019, the Board of Education approved the reorganization plan that was proposed in January 2019. The Board of Education dedicated significant time listening to the staff and community regarding the proposal. The Board extended the timeline to ensure that they took all aspects of the feedback into consideration while debating the reorganization plan. The reorganization of the Oneida City School District administrative staff will allow the district to improve school conditions for student learning by providing continuity of supports for social emotional learning, parent engagement, transitions between buildings, career and college readiness, making discipline practices more positive, and student attendance. These areas have been a barrier for many of our students in achieving academic success.
The Executive Principal will lead all building administrators in programs such as social emotional learning, parent engagement, transitions between buildings, career and college readiness, making discipline practices more positive, and student attendance. In addition to working with all building principals, the executive principal will service the high school managing the day to day activities of the high school. The high school will also be supported by an assistant principal and an assistant principal/athletic director. Furthermore, department leaders at the secondary level that will coordinate and work with the executive principal.
Currently, two of our elementary principals have an additional duty and in the past all elementary principals had an additional duty. With this new proposal, each elementary principal will have one additional responsibility such as nursing, UPK, ESL, & homeschooling.
Timeline
During the next month, the district will advertise and interview candidates for the positions of Administrator for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment and Executive Principal with a start date for each position in July 2019. The district will conduct a search that includes interviews with a committee of stakeholders including students, teachers, staff, and parents.
Throughout the school year, we will be monitoring the changes to see if any adjustments need to be made with the new positions.
The new administrative organization will be implemented on July 1, 2019 and will include the following positions:
o Superintendent of Schools
o Assistant Superintendent for Finance
o Administrator of Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment
o Administrator for Technology & Special Programs
o Executive Principal (K-12) housed at the High School
o Middle School Principal
o Four Elementary Principals
o Three Assistant Principals/ Athletic Director
Specific changes in positions
The Administrator for Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment position will focus on curriculum, instruction and assessment throughout the district and some duties of the former Assistant Superintendent for Instruction will move to the Superintendent. The new position will have less duties than the past and will focus more closely on curriculum, instruction and assessment. Duties that will be moved to the Superintendent will be determined after a candidate is selected as we will look at areas of interest and strength when dividing duties.
Statement from Superintendent Mary-Margaret Zehr "
On April 4, 2019, the Board of Education approved the reorganization plan that was proposed in January 2019. As Superintendent, I appreciate that the Board of Education dedicated significant time listening to the staff and community regarding the proposal. Realizing the importance of this decision, the Board also extended their timeline to ensure that they took all aspects of the feedback into consideration while debating the reorganization plan. In the end, I believe that the expected outcome of this proposal will enhance our educational system with increased collaboration, continuity and improved systems that will help our students be more successful. The needs of our community and families are changing. This reorganization will allow the district to be able to transition from the belief that the last four years of school (grades 9-12) are the most important, to a belief that all thirteen years of school are important. "