Department chairs to be hired with cash surplus

Despite the continuing objections of some members, the Community Unit District 300 school board has approved about $1.1 million in new spending for this school year.

The new programs and services would be funded with half of a projected $2.2 million surplus. The other half would augment the district's cash reserves.

The lion's share of the new spending, financed by increased revenue from property taxes and the state, would fund department chairmanships at the district's three high schools.

As District 300 focuses on meeting state standards at its high schools, some district officials say department chairs are long overdue.

Today, a principal or vice principal who has expertise in one or two subject areas may oversee dozens of teachers -- most of them outside the administrator's area of expertise.

"I know that when you have a person in charge of 200-plus people, with nobody underneath to buffer them … it's just not possible for a principal to be a principal at that point," board President Joe Stevens said.

Department chairs, supporters argue, can supervise a smaller number of teachers, coordinate curriculum and serve as a resource for newer faculty.

"We will be employing persons that are definitely masters of their trade," Superintendent Ken Arndt said.

But some board members weren't satisfied with the administration's assurances, asking for more documentation that department chairs have actually improved student performance.

"They never really gave me any information that proved that we were going to improve our student scores," board member Monica Clark said.

Supporters said data is hard to come by because the practice is so common and that a three-year trial period will enable the district to evaluate the effectiveness of the department chairs.

"If we're not making a positive impact in the first three years, I'll be the first one to say this isn't working, let's get rid of it," Arndt said.

Clark was the only board member to vote against the new spending, while John Ryan voted "present," according to board members.

The positions will be filled in the late winter or early spring by internal and external candidates, Arndt said.

Besides department chairs, the board also approved more staff for the district's media centers, foreign language program and summer school.