Comments on: Editorial: Just do the superintendent search fer cryin’ out loud

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:57:38 +0000

Hey I also heard that every year that all teachers each get $100.00 for the whole year to spend. Well what I heard now is their down to $50.00 per teacher for next school year. Come On! What do you expect them to buy for $50.00 for the whole school year.

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:44:19 +0000

Andy who works in the warehouse is great. He is always there whenever you need something. I wonder what the district is going to do when his time is up? Are the secretaries gonna learn how to run the fork lift? I’ve heard all department materials are up stairs on the second floor and the only way to get these items down is by fork lift. When Fred Stone was getting this warehouse built he asked every department how much space was needed. He told everyone there would be a elevator to get things up and down from the second floor. Once the warehouse was built and we eagerly went in looking for the elevator. They pointed to the forklift and said there it is aint it a bute. We were shocked! Is Christina the mail carrier gonna deliver all the deliveries? Poor Christina! Who gonna be there to help her carry the heavy boxes? But I guess the district knows best. Hey I know why not get Joyce Lewis who has the most items getting sent everywhere to help out! Or how about some of those top notch Executive, Admisitrative to the Assistant to the Assistant Secretaries go and help. They will probably be creating a list as well and assigning department Secretaries and Clerks to take turns. Of course Fred Stone Secretary (Krista Anderson)will be left off the list as well as Cindy Walker and Jill Olivas.

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:58:29 +0000

Dorothy, I agree, by letting Andy go, they are making a HUGE mistake. In addition, the office employees are now doing their own custodial work and must go to one of the superintendents overpaid secretaries to get a key to the janitorial closet just to get a trash can liner. That must be one important position to validate the payraise she received last year. I wonder what is next, the employees scrubbing the comodes? I am sure if that comes, she will distribute a calendar with assigned departments. (Her department will not appear on that though I am sure)

I am all for making some cuts to save money, but like I have said for a while, cut the excess fat instead of all the hard working low paying undervalued positions.

By: Dorothy

Dorothy — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:02:29 +0000

The warehouse is needed for much more than just the purchasing of items. Even though there’s a budget crisis, certain things are still need to make the schools work like lighting, toilet paper, trash bags, filters, and so much more. Andy is only one person now doing the job of 5 men shipping & receiving all items into the warehouse for all District uses, organizes the warehouse, making pick ups and deliveries to and from all of the schools each day, managing staff, labeling and inventorying books for the warehouse and the new school coming in August. You’d be surprised of what Andy’s day consists of; he barely has time to finish his lunch on most days. Have to walked into the Warehouse lately, it’s full. It’s a shame that the District is loosing such a great asset!

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:19:54 +0000

Susan, thank you for the information you have provided. I guess I was hoping that perhaps some of the new (last year summer start) directors that immediately became director II would get some sort of a decrease or offer to take one for the team. How discouraging that nothing really changed with the higher ups. That to me, would have made me respect the district so much more. To see one of them offering ANYTHING to save those that are there daily struggling to make ends meat on much lower paychecks, supporting their own family without the added perks many of the directors and administrators. I guess there is nothing “special” enough with the specialists to make a point to keep them. You did say the warehouse supervisor was let go, who will be running the new warehouse we HAD to build? oh wait, we don’t have the money to purchase items to come in, so there is no need for him or the new building right?

As far as Mr. Stone goes, I would be curious if he is retiring in the fall if they will continue to pay him through the end of the year anyhow. He is doing a small fraction of his duties and still receiving full pay….

Geoff, I believe you are referring to Mark Busch and I think he had no choice…but they replaced someone so that one doesn’t really count does it.

By: Geoff Johnston

Geoff Johnston — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:05:58 +0000

Didn’t that other director dude retire recently too? (Finance guy or something) I’m sure he was encouraged in that as well based on the current economic situation.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:59:53 +0000

District Office Employees that got the pink slips: Andy the Warehouse Supervisor, Polly the Accounts Payable Supervisor, Dont know his name the Purchasing Specialist, Marisela the Print Shop Specialist, Kristine Rawlinson Special Ed Specialist, and Dont know his name the Part Time Custodian. Resigning: Fred Stone the Director of Support, Catherine Cisar the Director of Special Ed, and Tim Snow the Special Ed Record Specialist (but he got hired as the SIRS Supervisor).

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:33:07 +0000

Can anyone tell me if ANY of the directors have been given the pink slip? It seems that nobody has listed that yet. What about upper administion? I have heard about teachers and support staff, maybe a few retirees in the future, but let’s be real….why are none of the directors being sent packing? And why are we bringing more aboard?

By: Willy

Willy — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:49:09 +0000

Maria

Not only that,The Community Ed Coordinator just hired one more assistant.
Does he really need 3?

By: Geoff Johnston

Geoff Johnston — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:52:00 +0000

Well I generally consider directors to be middle management. Of course I am not predicting there won’t be any cuts in support staff. If the budget does get cut further then there simply won’t be enough money to pay everyone and support staff is viewed as more expendable than teachers in general. I am just saying that it is hyperbole to say “They want to do away with most of the support staff (clerical staff)”.

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:05:14 +0000

Geoff, It would be very nice to believe they were just rumors. The problem I have seen from looking at the district directory is that there doesn’t seem to be any “middle management” positions. People are listed as Directors or specialists. Let them start cutting the budget with those that had their department or duties reorganized last year, and many of them taken away to give to others. That would alliviate some funds. If they are doing 50% of what they were currently doing, perhaps a decrease in their salary would be due.

By: Maria

Maria — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:44:33 +0000

Well I don’t think many Directors would be too happy knowing they would have to do their clerical and other petty work that is needed to get the job done.

By: Geoff Johnston

Geoff Johnston — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:36:16 +0000

Sounds like a bogus rumor to me Maria. Usually when layoffs happen it is middle management that takes the hit in these situations. The district needs clerical staff to function right?

By: Maria

Maria — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:30:10 +0000

There’s rumor going around the district that once the budget is looked over and the district sees how bad the budget is doing. They want to do away with most of the support staff (clerical staff). I don’t know how this would help the budget. Those two gentlemen that were sitting up front are the two directors they hired for Curriculum II Elementary/Secondary. Not including the other director they hired for Director of Instructional Support. There is also another group of people they hired at the same time the HR Coordinator, Project Specialist,
Community Ed Coordinator, Director of Research, and Senior Network Systems Specialist. I too don’t understand what or how they managed to hire so many Directors knowing I budget was what it is. Well all I know is that it will take them about 3 support staff personel to cover one of their salaries. It doesn’t make since.

By: Trevor Grant

Trevor Grant — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:49:15 +0000

Hello! My name is Trevor Grant im a “STUDENT” at Higley High School. As the year goes on, and debates between (parents, teachers, and community members)
I think its only fair if we here a students, since O I DONT KNOW!?!? its just a school district…

Im Chair holder of a group i founded with Dr Lutrey and Dr Birdwell called “SSAC” where 2 students from each campus threw out the district meet and dicuss topics and questions and new ideas for teachers and students envolvment.
Ive worked with Dr Birdwell and she really listens to the students, and she is a great leader, i believe she has the great qualities that the 10,000 students in the HUSD deserve. As a student, i really want her to stay as are SUPERINTENDENT of HUSD. Please feel free to contact me! I really want to get the word out and make a STAND as a STUDENT in the Higley District!

tbgrant7@gmail.com thank you very much!

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:16:20 +0000

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn’t they release several members office personel last year only to replace them with Directors and add Director 2’s to the budget? I am assuming that those salaries were not on the low end. I attended the board meeting on the 22 and listened to them state they wanted to bring in an athletic director again, yet we just released ours last June. And I still don’t understand what the Community Liason is for when we have a District Spokesperson and several others that can easily do the job.

I too would like to know what the status of the Director of Finance is. If he was only in his position for a year, surely the issues started prior to that. Is the person who held that position prior to him also being looked into?

Who is this person who is being placed in the position of interim asst super? I noticed there were two gentlemen sitting up front at the board meeting that I did not recognize. Are they new to the district as well? Where is the funding coming for all of their salaries? Are they going to do all of the administrative duties when the budget comes down and the district has to start letting people go? Are they interested in taking a paycut or salary freeze in order to save those that answer the phones and file the papers for them?

It should be a very interesting year.

By: azfam

azfam — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 03:17:16 +0000

True Sherry, we are paying for an interim super, but I have a feeling we will also be paying for the interim asst super who took Birdwell’s place.
What is the news on the finance issue anyways. The Executive Director of Finance is still not back at work? Is he being paid, what has the internal audit found out?
If HUSD is worried about the upcoming budget cuts, they can save 6 figures a year by getting rid of the other Executive Director who was there before Marc Busch. He was probably the one who messed up the budget in the first place.

By: Sherry

Sherry — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:08:13 +0000

As a concerned parent: Isn’t the district worried about being in the negative with their budget this year. Isn’t the district still paying for a Superintendent’s salary? So why go spend more money on hiring another Superintendent when we have a good Asst Superintendent as Interim Superintendent? Let this school year finish out before we think about spending another hundred thousand on a new Superintendent. And why not offer the position to Dr. Birdwell if she does a good job. I hear she is very highly qualified for this position. Oh well what do I know; I’m just a concerned Higley district parent/tax payer! One last thing, why doesn’t the district participate in the Alternative Certification program? I’ve met and seen several wonderful teachers going through this program.

By: Inside viewer

Inside viewer — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:39:55 +0000

As far as looking for a new superintendent, I think that Higley should handle this situation correctly by posting the job, conducting real interviews and choose the candidate that best fits. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the way things are done here. I have seen plenty of positions filled without a single job posting. I have coworkers that have been highly qualified for many positions they showed an interest in, only to find out the position has already been filled. There are current employees that have been doing many tasks that are not part of their assigned duties according to their job discription. After months, or years, of doing such they are then told they have someone new to report to and their duties are reevalutated.

It appears to me that people pick and choose who will do what job according to their friendships with one another. I have already seen positions created to people that do not deserve to do such. Take a tour of the district office and see how people have already moved into new offices and roles since Dr. Birdwell has taken on this temporary position.

I do believe Dr. Birdwell has what it takes to effectively run the district and she should welcome the opportunity to interview for such. If she is happy within the district, it will show in her interview. It saddens me to hear her say if we open up the search, she will consider her employment elsewhere.

I think the process of interviewing should be reviewed by the district. Let us show the employees that there are plenty of growth opportunities and that we are all on equal grounds. Let us have some input when it comes to what we need in a leader.

By: Geoff Johnston

Geoff Johnston — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:25:41 +0000

Regarding the concern that a search could cause us to lose Dr. Birdwell: It seems to me that if Dr. Birdwell likes the job she would have a leg up in the interview process to begin with. She has at least two board members in her corner already. If the district simply interviewed a couple of other qualified Arizona-based candidates then there would be no questions about Dr. Birdwell getting the job via the back door, right? And why not make a final decision by the end of February? How long do a few interviews really take?