Salaries for new COO, CFO, other positions released by Greater Clark Schools

Clark County

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August 19, 2009

By TARA HETTINGER The News and Tribune Wed Aug 19, 2009, 01:34 PM EDT

The cost of recent hires and promotions at Greater Clark County Schools totals nearly $500,000, according to documents attained via an open-records request by The Evening News.

That figure is reached by adding the salaries of the new assistant superintendent, executive director for educational services, chief financial officer, chief operations officer and dean at River Valley Middle School

However, Donna Mullins, director of human resources for Greater Clark, said the district also is saving money by not filling four open positions, three of which have been vacant since last year, and a fourth that has been open since October 2007.

The previous salaries for those spots, which includes supervisors of guidance and curriculum, director of student services and director of food service, adds up to $316,551.

“As organization changes, you combine and eliminate and you determine what you need,” Greater Clark Superintendent Stephen Daeschner said.

He said duties of the positions left open were divvied up among various people, including some of the new positions, such as Assistant Superintendent Travis Haire, Executive Director of Educational Services Amy Schellenberg and Chief Operations Officer Marty Bell.

Haire will take on some of the tasks of the director of student services; Schellenberg will take on the curriculum duties remaining; and Bell will oversee food service, as well as other areas, such as communications and transportation.

Another new position, River Valley Middle School dean, was filled by Tony Branch. That spot had been open since February 2008.

Branch formerly worked as athletic director at Jeffersonville High School, a position now filled by Jeff Griffith, who will take on those tasks while also being the school’s assistant principal.

Haire makes $108,769 in his new position. The salaries for Schellenberg and Bell are both $111,446, and Branch will make $55,874 as dean.

Frank Collesano, chief financial officer, is making $111,446. Keith Hedges, new principal at Charlestown High School, is making $92,799 and Jim Sexton, principal at Options Alternative School, is making $55,874.

Daeschner said he believes this is all the new hires and promotions needed for now.

“I think we pretty well have an established cabinet,” he said. “That doesn’t mean you won’t tweak things and continue to look at things.”

He said he’s looking forward to what his cabinet can achieve.

“I’m excited. I’ve very excited about our potential to really affect the achievement of kids,” he said.

BY THE NUMBERS

The new positions Greater Clark recently announced and what they make:

• $108,769 — Travis Haire, assistant superintendent (position left open since 2006)

• $111,446 — Amy Schellenberg, executive director for educational services (new position)

• $111,446 — Marty Bell, chief operating officer (new position)

• $55,874 — Tony Branch, River Valley Middle School dean (position left open since February 2008)

Other existing positions recently filled:

• $111,446 — Frank Collesano, chief financial officer

• $92,799 — Keith Hedges, Charlestown High School principal

• $88,119 — Jim Sexton, Options Alternative School principal

Jobs not filled

• Supervisor of curriculum — left open since 2008

• Supervisor of guidance — left open since 2008

• Director of student services — left open since December 2008

• Director of food service — left open since October 2007