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Date: 1/9/2024
WESTHAMPTON — Untangling the staffing difficulties at the central office was on the agenda at a meeting of the All Districts Committee of Hampshire Regional School District on Jan. 4. Mickey Buhl, business manager for the district, said an overhaul was already in the planning stages — but now the work includes expeditiously hiring a new superintendent.
The district will also need a business manager.
“All year there was the strong desire to do this review of financial practices in the business office,” Buhl said. “We now not only have the opportunity to do that, but we have to do that ... We have a crisis that we need quick action on.”
The staffing challenges are very serious. Buhl said after Taffy Bassett-Fox, accounts manager for the regional district, worked her last day on Friday, Jan. 5, there was no permanent staff remaining in the central office. A necessary restructuring, however, will cause delays in hiring.
District policies are complicating the hirings. Buhl said the only job the district could advertise for was accounts payable. A job description already existed. A job description for a new job, which may be necessary in a new staffing structure that redistributes office duties, has to be voted on by all committees in the district.
“That will take a month,” Buhl said. “We do not have a month to restaff the office.”
Buhl will also be leaving the district. He accepted a new job, which will become official on Jan. 9. He told members of the All Districts Committee that a restructuring of the Hampshire district can be done and staff can be hired to “secure the functionality of the central office.”
“It’s a different set of options to consider … if the business manager’s position and the superintendent’s position are vacant,” Buhl said. “I don’t think it’s viable to hire people with both positions vacant.”
Buhl’s new position won’t start until July. That gives the All Districts Committee a window to hire before Buhl leaves. He recommended the All Districts Committee forgo hiring his replacement, however, since he spoke to hiring agencies who said eight or nine positions for a school business manager in the state are getting no applications. He recommended a combination of help from agencies, which the district already takes advantage of, and hiring experienced help.
Some of the staffing pieces are already in place. The district has a contract for some services with Mass Munisense, a contract that goes through the end of next year. Camie Lamica, the district’s part-time treasurer, in combination with a second firm, TMS, could fill core business functions for the central office.
Bea Thorne worked for the district through an agency for three weeks, then later called Buhl to ask about employment. Buhl is optimistic that Thorne will ably replace Bassett-Fox.
Buhl told board members the money is in the budget to hire new staff. He said $250,000 is roughly the budget for salaries for business manager and superintendent. It is available, so would not be a stumbling block. The one position the board could immediately act on was the accounts payable.
“Hopefully we can keep the one area that’s been flowing well … accounts payable … keep that flowing,” Buhl said.
The Human Resources Department is also facing difficulties. Buhl is doing payroll, under time constraints and facing difficulties accessing the necessary information. The department needs someone very experienced because of the problems in the office and the district.
“My recommendation would be a retiree,” Buhl said. “I spoke with Karen Katsanos, who lives nearby and retired.”
Katsanos worked in human resources for the Clark School as part of a long career in human resources. She would be interested in working three or four days a week, Buhl said, and could start soon. He offered estimates of pay rates for Katsanos and Thorne, but negotiations may arrive at a different number.
Buhl looked for authorization to use the approach he described to cobble together a staff for the central office. Jon Lumbra, chair of Southampton’s school committee, summarized the fiscal ramifications and unanswered questions.
“Regardless of whether we go with this plan … we’re kind of in this Twilight Zone,” Lumbra said.
Committee members questioned what accounts the money would come from and who would negotiate salaries. Buhl recommended the All Districts Committee set up an ad hoc committee as soon as possible. In the ensuing discussion about hiring a replacement for the superintendent, Buhl’s recommendation overcame objections and concerns. An ad hoc committee was approved, consisting of a member and an alternate from each town, rather than one each school committee.
After All Districts Committee members voted to create an ad hoc committee they promptly adjourned after a long evening of discussion.