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Date: 8/8/2022
NORTHAMPTON – During a July 28 special meeting, the Northampton School Committee elected Roberta Jones as their permanent business administrator.
Jones, who is currently the business administrator in the Hampshire Regional School Districts, where she has been for 26 years, was the sole person interviewed for the position during the July 28 meeting. She will replace former administrator Nick Bernier, who left in June to pursue a job in Easthampton.
The school business administrator is responsible for developing and continually monitoring the budget and the district’s financial resources such as school choice, grants, revolving funds and gift funds throughout the year.
During her interview, Jones – also referred to as ‘Bobbie’ – said her most recent job involved working for a district that has two regionals and three municipals, meaning she took care of five different budgets.
“There’s a very big process just before you start in that,” said Jones, regarding the budget process at Hampshire Regional. “I work with the principals, superintendent; I work with the towns, and I work with any various stakeholders.”
Jones said she worked “very closely” will all five of her school committees at Hampshire Regional and answered questions for each body when she could. “I provide reports on a quarterly basis for the operating budget … I provide anything that the [school committees] wants,” said Jones. “I’m open to them calling, emailing, texting. Whatever they need to do, I’m open to them. I want to make sure I’m transparent as can be.”
When asked how she works with principals on their budget, Jones said she always approaches them “directly” and meets with them on a weekly basis during budget season to find out if there are any shortages or other issues.
“If we’re falling behind because we had, say, a catastrophic maintenance issue, then we have to look to see where we would cut, and how can we do it without impacting programming,” said Jones. “The biggest thing we want to do is not impact programming, if at all possible.”
Aside from working with principals, Jones said her role is to model inclusivity and support the schools and administrators in whatever they are working on.
Because Hampshire Regional did not have a lot of personnel, Jones said she also wore the hat of supervising and managing their facilities department, food services department and transportation department. “I do have some really qualified people in my cafeterias that are excellent,” said Jones. “I don’t have to do a whole lot on the day-to-day operations other than to make sure I am available if they have any questions.”
The meeting was also Jannell Pearson-Campbell’s first time in front of the School Committee as the interim superintendent of the district. Susan Wright served as the interim superintendent and interim business manager before Pearson-Campbell and Jones were hired. Pearson-Campbell is anticipated to serve up to one year as the committee continues its search for a permanent candidate. Jones, meanwhile, is expected to officially begin her position as business administrator in 60 days.
“I don’t think she’s going to need a lot of hand holding, so I honestly think she’s going to be able to come in-even if she’s only in there part time for August and September-she’s going to be up to speed by October,” said Wright.