7 positions cut in U-46's central office

Elgin Area School District U-46 announced an aggressive game of musical chairs at its central office Thursday.

Seven administrative positions will be eliminated at the end of this school year, officials said in an afternoon news release.

Those positions include the district's assistant superintendent for administrative operations, Lalo Ponce; its chief academic officer, Barb Bonner; its executive director of programs and accountability, Deb Dimke; executive director of secondary education, Tom Donausky; executive director of elementary education, Tina Radomsky; coordinator of staff development, Sherry Hullinger; and coordinator of instructional technology, Janine Shelley.

With these positions gone, two assistant superintendents will be added - one for elementary education and one for secondary education. Bonner will take the role of assistant superintendent for secondary education. The assistant superintendent for elementary education position is vacant.

Along with a new chief of staff, a new executive director for student services will oversee special education and English Language Learners programs. This position is also vacant, the release noted.

In addition to the seven cuts and four additions, the roles of other administrators will change shape, U-46 spokesman Tony Sanders said. Chief Legal Officer Pat Broncato will begin overseeing the district's human resources and payroll department. The position of assistant to the superintendent for special projects, held by Karen Fox, will now encompass family and community engagement.

Those individuals whose positions were eliminated may have the opportunity to serve in other areas, Sanders said.

Sanders insisted the moves are not budget related. "This is strictly Dr. (Jose) Torres trying to refocus the organization on schools and accountability ... positions have been reconfigured to reduce the layers between the superintendent and all the schools," he said.

On 2008 state report cards, released in October, 19 of the district's 40 elementary schools failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress. Three of eight middle schools and all five of the district's high schools failed.

"There's a strong push to be more accountable to the communities that we serve," Sanders said.

District administrators were informed of the cuts Thursday, Sanders said.

Several more changes are expected before the 2009-10 school year begins.