Several changes to the Westerville City School District’s leadership structure will be in place for the 2010-11 school year. The restructuring does not add any Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) administrative positions, remains within current costs for our leadership team, and better aligns personnel to the goals and priorities within the district’s strategic plan.

Continued streamlining of the district’s leadership structure also is being prompted by the need for succession planning as several veteran administrators have retired or soon will be retiring. These new and existing vacancies create an opportunity to implement a management structure that meets future district needs, as well as upcoming state and federal mandates.

“This is a critical time for our district, so we need to ensure that we have a leadership structure and organizational capacity in place to meet the challenges ahead of us,” said Dr. Dan Good, superintendent. “We also realize that we must continue to be fiscally accountable to our residents, which is why we’ve developed a structure that stays within current FTEs and reduces personnel costs associated with these positions while establishing a plan to fill vacancies created by previous and upcoming retirements.”

Several personnel changes will occur within the district’s Department of Academic Affairs. Chief of Academic Affairs Diane Conley has announced her retirement effective January 31, 2011. Beginning with the 2010-11 school year, current Director of Elementary Academic Affairs Karen McClellan will become Deputy Chief Academic Officer. In this role she will work closely with Conley to learn and ultimately assume the role of Chief Academic Officer upon Conley’s retirement.

Blendon Middle School Principal David Baker will fill the vacancy created by McClellan’s transition and become the district’s Executive Director, K-8 Academic Affairs. Blendon Assistant Principal Glenna Cameron also has announced her retirement at the end of the current school year. As a result, both the Blendon principalship and assistant principalship will be posted and filled prior to the start of the 2010-11 school year. Current Director of Secondary Academic Affairs Keith Bell’s title will change to Executive Director, High School Academic Affairs and Extracurricular Programs. Bell’s responsibilities will be modified to include supervision of athletics and other extracurricular activities at the district’s three high schools.

Two vacant Curriculum and Instruction positions also will be restructured and filled to strengthen this particular academic function. Westerville Central High School Assistant Principal Dr. Machelle Kline will become the district’s Director, Assessment and Alternative Education Services, while Middle School Curriculum Coordinator Jennifer Knapp will become the district’s Director, Curriculum and Instruction Services. The vacancies created by Kline’s and Knapp’s transition will be filled prior to the start of the 2010-11 school year.

Executive Director, Pupil Services/Special Education Pam Potter has given notice that she intends to retire at the end of the 2010-11 school year. In preparation for this retirement, current Huber Ridge Principal Barb Wallace will become our Assistant Director, Special Education Services. In this role she will work closely with Potter in the day-to-day management of the district’s Special Education Program and provide additional support as the district transitions to new leadership in this area.

Steve Petercsak, principal at Longfellow Elementary Magnet School and Central College Elementary Magnet School, has announced that he will retire in January 2011. Next school year he will serve as Interim Coordinator, Academic Affairs and the vacant principalship at Longfellow and Central College will be filled by current Mark Twain Elementary Principal Dr. Scott Ebbrecht. The principalship at Mark Twain Elementary will be posted and filled prior to the 2010-11 school year.

The district’s Department of Administrative Services also will undergo a slight restructuring at the outset of the 2010-11 school year. Current Chief of Community Relations/Administrative Services Mark Hershiser will become the district’s Chief Operating Officer /Assistant Superintendent, filling a vacancy created by the recent retirement of Dr. Chris Wanner.

Suzanne Kile, who is the current principal of McVay Elementary School, will become the district’s Director, Community Relations Services. Amy Miller, presently serving as Coordinator of Diversity and Family Engagement, will fill the vacant principalship at McVay Elementary School.

Several titles will be modified to more accurately reflect a streamlined reporting structure, as well as the responsibilities and type of work that individuals are performing. Gifted Education Facilitator Suzanne Palmer will become Coordinator, Gifted and Talented Services. Coordinator of Health and Safety Debbie Meissner will become Director, Health and Safety Services, while Transportation Manager Bob Lynde will become the Director, Transportation Services. Assistant Warehouse Manager Gary Craig will become Manager, Warehouse Services. Executive Director of Communications Greg Viebranz will become Executive Director, Communications and Technology Services. Director of Purchasing, Food Service, Distribution & Printing Jenna McDevitt will become Director, Business Management Services.

“This organizational structure prepares us for the future while remaining within current FTE staff counts and costs for our leadership team,” Good explained. “It also allows us to better leverage the knowledge, skills and professionalism of our current management staff while minimizing potential operational disruptions. Finally, it lowers our overhead costs and maintains the quality of services we are able to provide to families, students and the community.”