New Dist. 300 schools chief plans changes

The next leader of Community Unit District 300 has outlined his plan to eliminate or reassign a number of administrative positions to shift the district’s top priority to teaching and learning.

Superintendent-elect Michael Bregy, who will take over when Superintendent Ken Arndt retires at the end of the school year, met with administrators and support staff last week to discuss Phase I of the plan.

“Because our financial resources are increasingly limited, we must ensure that administration’s energy is focused on our core mission of teaching and learning,” Bregy said. “My plan will shift our top priority to this area, which our students need and deserve.”

The plan will result in the elimination of some administrator positions and the creation of others, Bregy said. Positions that will be eliminated in the 2011-2012 school year include the director of assessment and accountability, now held by Carole Cooper, who is retiring. The director of pupil personnel services is leaving the district, while Tom Hay will move from assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction to instruction services. This role will assume some assessment and accountability responsibilities, as well as overseeing alternative education programs and summer school.

Assistant superintendent of operations, Sarah Kedroski, will be promoted to associate superintendent, making her second in command of the district. The district will also introduce four assistant superintendents for teaching and learning. Three of the positions will be grade specific: elementary, which includes preschool, middle school and high school. The fourth position will cover education services, including special education, nursing, counselors, homeless and other duties. In addition, Bregy said assistant principal and dean positions could be eliminated.

The assistant superintendents will work as a team to ensure there are more consistent expectations and supports between grades levels across the district, Bregy said,

The structure will allow the district to take advantage of being a unit district where all grade levels from kindergarten through the 12th grade are included.