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School Board to Consider Plan to NOT Replace Middle School Principal

Many in the community were surprised last month at the news of Dr. Shana Spickard’s resignation as principal of Manchester Middle School. Most assumed that the process of hiring a replacement would begin shortly thereafter, but Superintendent Cherie Vannatter announced at the July 20 school board meeting that the school administration is considering another option: not hiring anyone to replace Spickard, at least not for this coming school year.

Facing a budget crisis caused by decreased state funding due to declining enrollment, Vannatter met with Klager Elementary principal Jennifer Mayes and Manchester High School Principal Kevin Mowrer to create a plan that would cover the job of middle school principal between the three administrators. This would be done by each of the two principals spending two half days each at the middle school and Vannatter spending a half or a whole day there every week so every day an administrator would be at the Middle School for at least half of the day. The plan also calls for adding “teacher leaders” who would serve as administrators in their absence. Accounting for small increases in pay for increased duties, this plan would save the district between $85,000 and $100,000 next year.

Current state legislation requires that school districts with a fund balance below 5% submit additional paperwork and documentation to the Department of Treasury at the State. If a district goes into deficit (a negative fund balance) a Deficit Elimination Plan is required and/or oversight by the State. Vannatter states, “Certainly, we will try to do everything we can to stay out of that position.”

Last school year the budget deficit was approximately $465,000. The projection for next year is a budget deficit of $482,000. Not hiring a middle school principal drops next school year projected deficit to under $400,000. This would keep next year’s estimated fund balance closer to $800,000 or about 7.5%–thereby avoiding the need for additional documentation and oversight by the State.

School board members, staff and parents present at the meeting raised concerns with this plan including the danger of overstretching an already overtaxed staff and the risk of losing current effectiveness. Other concerns included the school district becoming less desirable for school of choice students and schools left to deal with disciplinary and other emergencies, including lockdowns, without a principal in the building. Vannatter pointed out that each of the schools has a plan already in place for dealing with those situations. There are already days that principals are out of any given building for some or all of the day to attend conferences and meetings. She also pointed out that Manchester is better suited for principal sharing than other districts as the schools are so closely located that travel time between buildings is minimal and a principal in one building would literally be minutes away if needed in another.

The plan had not yet been discussed with the middle school staff. The final decision will be made at the next school board meeting scheduled for August 17.

Editor’s Note: This article originally stated that not hiring a middle school principal for the 2015-2016 school year would keep next year’s estimated fund balance closer to “$8,000,000” which was incorrect. It has been changed to “$800,000” which is the correct amount.

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.