Greater Clark County Schools: Stephen Daeschner brings his Jefferson County Public Schools deputy on as new COO

Marty Bell worked in Jefferson County for 22 years before retiring

By TARA HETTINGER

Another retiree and former Stephen Daeschner co-worker is coming to Greater Clark County Schools, where Daeschner is superintendent.

On Tuesday night, the school board named Marty Bell as the district’s chief operating officer, a new position created since Daeschner started this summer.

Bell said Daeschner spoke to him about the position before he recently put in his notice to retire after 22 years at Jefferson County Public Schools in Kentucky. However, he said his decision to leave his post as deputy superintendent there was independent of his decision to come to Greater Clark.

“I had so much responsibility at JCPS — probably more than I could carry,” Bell said after the meeting.

He said his job required him overseeing the district’s 135 schools and an additional 20 other learning centers. Greater Clark has 20 schools, including Options Alternative School and Corden Porter Education Center.

He said the COO position will give him more breathing room.

“I’m still going to work very hard,” he added.

He said he was persuaded to come back to work after retiring because of Daeschner’s plan.

“He’s very convincing,” Bell said. “He’s got the right agenda. He’s all about doing what’s best for kids.”

The vote was 6-1, with Ernie Gilbert, board president, voting against.

“I’ve been very concerned about expenditures, and I’m still very concerned about expenditures,” Gilbert said before voting on the personnel report that included hiring Bell. “There are things in this I think can cause problems down the line.”

Daeschner said he has looked internally to fill open positions before searching outside of the district as a way to save money. He said he also looks into whether the job can be shared with people the corporation already has on staff.

That personnel report also included moving Tony Branch from his position as athletic director at Jeffersonville High School to be the dean at River Valley Middle School, according to board vice president Christina Gilkey.

She stated that this was a new position and that she didn’t know when was the last time the school had a dean. She said Parkview Middle School also has a dean.

Last month, JHS reassigned the duties of the school’s assistant principals, putting Jeff Griffith in charge of the athletic department as well as overseeing band and choir concerts, theater performances and other activities.

BOARD ETHICS

Board member Bob McEwen presented the board with a proposed revision to the school board code of ethics policy.

Changes included adding the following phrases:

• I will refuse to use my position on the board in any way whatsoever for personal gain or personal prestige.

• I will act only upon the recommendation of the superintendent in matters of employment or dismissal of school personnel.

The proposed changes also include a revision saying board members are to refuse to make statements on how they will vote on any matter which should come before the board as a whole prior to that time.

Gilbert commented that he would like to see a committee appointed by Daeschner to evaluate the policy, adding that board members Missy DeArk, Becka Christensen and secretary Robbie Valentine have volunteered. McEwen said he also would like to help.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

The board passed a first reading of a policy change involving comments from the public. The changes include reducing the allotted time for each person to talk from five minutes to three minutes.

People also would not be allowed to identify individuals who are Greater Clark employees, board members or agents if the topic presented could be “demeaning or derogatory.”

The policy states the board reserves the right to stop any presentation that fails to comply with the rules.

The proposed change will move on to a second and final reading before it becomes policy.

ONE-TO-ONE UPDATE

The rollout date for the one-to-one computer initiative at Charlestown High School is expected to be in early October, according to Mariane Fisher, supervisor of instructional services.

She gave the board an update on the project that aims to put a laptop in the hands of each student, which they would get to take home with them during the school year if they pay for liability insurance.

So far, she said the project has cost $308,564.09, which includes the payment of the first year on the three-year lease for the laptops, project management and infrastructure changes. That does not include the wireless access points that are to be installed in the school.

She said now she is working to create a policy for students and parents to sign before taking a computer home, as well as figure out the insurance portion of it all.

In September, she said a team of teachers will be trained on how to use the technology. Those teachers would be able to help others throughout the year.

GRADUATION DATES

The board approved the 2010 graduations dates and times for the three high schools. All will be June 12. JHS will be at 10 a.m.; New Washington High School is set for 2 p.m.; and CHS is scheduled for 6 p.m.