THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 26, 1995 TAG: 9505240167
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
W. Randolph Nichols, the deputy superintendent who will take over the school system's top job when Superintendent C. Fred Bateman retires this summer, will have a new leadership team behind him.
The School Board Monday night unanimously approved the first phase of a central office reorganization proposed by a transition committee that includes Nichols, Bateman and other top administrators. Seventeen people will assume new titles between now and Jan. 1.
The board is scheduled next month to consider the second phase, which Nichols said would affect at least as many people.
One of the biggest changes is that the district will have three assistant superintendents instead of two. The third position replaces one cut when Bateman was promoted.
But overall, Nichols said, the number of administrative positions will not increase and no extra money will be spent on administrative salaries. He also said no one would be demoted or fired to make room for the new leadership team, and attrition will make room for the new positions.
For example, the team will include a director for student activities to be filled July 1 by Glenn L. Koonce, who is now principal of Oscar Smith High. Koonce, who competed against Nichols for the superintendency, is interested in getting some central office experience. Oscar Smith Assistant Principal Janet M. Andrejco will replace Koonce at the school. She will be the first female high school principal in the city.
The assistant superintendent for instruction, who now handles such duties such as student attendance, will be responsible only for instructional issues.
``We want to put a focus, a very specific focus, on instruction,'' Nichols said.
An assistant superintendent for support will handle functions such as personnel, school improvement planning, school safety and staff training. An assistant superintendent for finance will handle money issues, such as budgets and accounting, and will oversee an initiative to check the effectiveness of the school system's programs.
There will no longer be a position of assistant superintendent for personnel.
A new administrative director for operations will oversee the departments that handle school construction, maintenance and the purchase of supplies.
The deputy superintendent, who has supervised all money and school facilities issues, will have fewer duties.
Following is a list of specific changes:
William E. Russell, now assistant superintendent for instruction, will take Nichols' place as deputy superintendent Aug. 1.
Linda Duffy Palombo, assistant superintendent for personnel, will take Russell's spot as assistant superintendent for instruction Aug. 1.
Davida W. Mutter, director of budget, will become assistant superintendent for budget and finance Aug. 1.
William S. Myers, administrative director of instructional programs, will become assistant superintendent of support services Aug. 1.
James T. Roberts, director of business affairs for Portsmouth public schools, will come to Chesapeake to take Mutter's place as director of budget Aug. 1.
Steven M. Gilbert, director of purchasing and school plants, will become administrative director for operations, effective immediately.
G. Larry Short, a program administrator who is in charge of elementary language arts, will become director of elementary instruction Aug. 1.
Nancy P. Creekmore, who trains teachers for a program called Reading Recovery, will become supervisor of reading and language arts Aug. 1.
Janice E. Featherston, assistant principal at Butts Road Primary, will become supervisor of Chapter I reading July 1.
Colleen C. Fox, principal of Deep Creek Central Elementary, will become principal of the new elementary school on Cedar Road Jan. 1 of next year.
Diane C. Watkins, staff assistant to Palombo, will take Fox's place as principal of Deep Creek Central Elementary on Jan. 1.
Donald G. Travitz, director of pupil transportation, will become assistant in pupil assignment July 1.
H. Thomas Gillette III, personnel administrator, will replace Travitz as director of pupil transportation July 1.
Muriel Y. Perkins, assistant principal at Crestwood Middle School, will take Gillette's position as personnel administrator July 1.
Ethel W. Mitchell, supervisor of guidance, will replace Perkins at Crestwood Middle School July 1.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE SCHOOL BOARD by CNB