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Date: 9/25/2015
WEST SPRINGFIELD – The School Committee voted unanimously to accept a new position to the administrative team. The committee approved adding an assistant administrator of special services at its Sept. 22 meeting.
Director of Special Services Francine Bigda made the request for an assistant administrator. Though the position had previously existed for 24 years, according to Assistant Superintendent Kevin McQuillan, the district did not fill the position again when Dr. Russell Johnston became the director of special services.
McQuillan said the burden of the position has not changed. The responsibilities of the assistant administrator include evaluating special education staff and the programs, as well as monitoring out of district programs.
The money for the new position will come out of the school choice revenue, McQuillan said. The salary will be between $65,000 and $88,000. The position will also be added when budgeting for fiscal year 2017.
School Committee member Nancy Farrell said the budget subcommittee unanimously supported the addition of the position.
“We want to make sure that we are spending our money wisely and meeting the needs of [Individualized Education Programs], but making sure we’re doing it in the most efficient way possible,” Farrell said.
The assistant administrator position allows the district to divide the “enormous responsibility” of the special education department, according to School Committee member Pat Garbacik.
“We are charged with moving all children to that next level of progress and we really need this kind of assistance in order to do that,” Garbacik said.
Michelle Serafino of the committee said it also allows more flexibility for the director of special services. Special education is the largest portion of the School Department’s budget, and Serafino said because of the demands of the position, the director cannot be everywhere at once.
Adding on the assistant administrator will help.
“I think it’s money well spent and probably overdue,” Serafino said.