Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 19, 1992 TAG: 9203190139
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
That's why the board instructed him to put together a resolution describing the current procedures for each process at its work session Wednesday night.
State law does not provide specific details on how job openings must be advertised and how school personnel can be moved from school to school.
That omission led Kimberly Ritchie, the school system's attorney, to recommed the board annually adopt a resolution instructing the superintendent on these matters.
Dodge told the board he currently advertises jobs inside and outside the system. How widely the job is advertised outside the system depends on the position and the availability of applicants.
On transfers, Dodge said he believed he could move an administrator to a school of the same or lower grade levels without School Board approval. But if someone was being moved to a school with higher grades levels, such as from an elementary school to a middle school, that would require board action.
Such a policy was first adopted four years ago. Chairman Robert Goncz and board members Don Lacy and Virginia Kennedy, all on the School Board then, related stories about Montgomery County being perceived as a "closed shop" before that.
Most of the board had no problems with this philosophy.
"I certainly agree with the argument that to advertise as widely as possible results in the best applicants for the position to be filled," said board member Lou Herrmann. "And when we advertise, all applicants should be considered."
But Mike Sowder thought the job search should begin internally.
"I'm all for hiring the best personnel possible," said Sowder. "But I think you should first see if that person is within the system. Then, if not, go outside."
He pointed to the county's new assistant superintendent, James Fellers, formerly the principal of Blacksburg Middle School, as evidence Montgomery County could promote from within.
But Dodge countered that by saying Fellers knows he has withstood the test of being compared to a national field of applicants.
Several other board members, including Rebecca Raines and Goncz, did say all other things being equal, an internal candidate should be given preference.
The matter will come up for discussion again when Dodge presents a resolution at the board's April 7 meeting. That meeting was moved to Blacksburg High because the board will be recognizing a large number of students.
Also Tuesday, the board decided to end the school year early because of unused snow days. The last day of school will be June 5, if no inclement weather forces the closing of schools. Also, Memorial Day was made a school holiday with one of the snow days.
by CNB