School district to hire innovation director for post vacated by Darlene Moss
A new director of innovation will be hired and could start work as early as January, according to a vote Saturday by the Beaufort County school board.
The question of whether to fill the position -- vacated by Darlene Moss, the wife of superintendent Jeff Moss -- has been on hold since Sept. 21. That's when the school board instructed Jeff Moss to review all district level jobs and "to determine whether all positions are necessary and appropriate in light of existing staff structure and budget constraints."
Darlene Moss was hired for the $90,000 job this summer after her husband changed the school district's nepotism rule. Following public outcry, she resigned.
Jeff Moss reported to the board Saturday that he believed a director of innovation was still necessary to fulfill the district's goals and would like to begin advertising it again.
The new director would also earn about $90,000 and be in charge of the same initiatives, such as creating academic programs for specific schools and potentially creating a district-wide Wi-Fi network for students.
Board member JoAnn Orischak questioned the money going to another administrative position, and suggested Jeff Moss could put the money toward several teaching jobs instead. Orischak, who voted against approving the new structure, said Tuesday she still would prefer hiring two more teachers.
"It may not sound like much but the relief that may offer one school could make a difference, frankly," she said.
Jeff Moss has said that one or two additional educators would do little to relieve pressure on teachers at other district schools. But district employees can lend their expertise at individual schools in addition to running district-wide programs, he added.
"The organizational structure I presented is an effective structure for a district our size," Jeff Moss said Tuesday. "I think the positions we have are needed."
Jeff Moss and several board members, particularly board chairwoman Mary Cordray, cautioned other board members from directing the superintendent to cut certain jobs or spend the money in his budget a certain way. Cordray called the questions "micromanaging."
"The board's job is to say what you want done," Jeff Moss said. "It's my job to figure out how to get it done.
Orischak said Tuesday she has a different perspective.
"I think there's a sense among the board that if we ask questions, probing questions, it might be interpreted as trying to micromanage," she said. "I think the board is right to ask those questions."
Jeff Moss' review also resulted in one promotion. The district's student services coordinator, who earns $55,874, will become director of student services. The new salary, which will go into effect in January, has not yet been determined.
Jeff Moss also renamed the title of her supervisor, chief student services officer Gregory McCord, to chief auxiliary services officer, to more accurately reflect his varied responsibilities, including not only student services but also protective services, alternative programs, transportation and grounds.
Saturday was the first time the board and Moss jointly discussed his administrative review.
On Oct. 20 and again Saturday, Moss said he had recently accomplished big savings through attrition, spending about $490,000 less in the district office this year than last.
But a breakdown of costs provided by the district shows savings are about $208,000 in salaries and benefits after factoring in employee raises and the estimated salaries of two currently vacant jobs that Moss plans to fill. One of those jobs -- the district's academic improvement officer -- has been reclassified as innovation director.
Orischak noted any savings Moss "boasted about" this year would not be counted in his upcoming annual evaluation, which is scheduled to take place next week.
She said she has requested the same information for the previous year.
Follow reporter Rebecca Lurye on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Rebecca.
Related content:
- School board to discuss new nepotism policy, Moss' performance, Oct. 22, 2015
- Documents: Motions and chairman's comments, Sept. 21, 2015
- Moss to keep his job; wife resigns new post, board to revisit nepotism policy, Sept. 21, 2015
This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 10:11 AM with the headline "School district to hire innovation director for post vacated by Darlene Moss."