So here we were in the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs (Camber-Davidson and McCourt were absent). Would Charlie Waffles make an appearance and vote to approve the position?
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Instead, right out of the gate, board member John Welke asked board president if he was planning to summarize the issue. If not, Welke added, he had a motion to make. Whalen invited Welke to proceed and make his motion. And that's when the game changed.
Motion
Hire up to 1.0 FTE, 260 days per year, Human Relations and Recruitment Specialist as soon as practical using the approved job description. This position would be a "project position" expiring at the end of FY 2012-13 unless specifically reauthorized by the School Board after January 1, 2013. This position would be in the Administrative Support Staff group with a salary not to exceed $55,016 ($26.45 per hour) per school year with funding coming only from grants and/or existing or reallocated administrative or administrative support staff FTE.
Motion by John M Welke, second by Terry Shimek.
Welke responded that his motion did not direct Administration to eliminate anything. It simply offered a choice to fill the HR position, but to do it within the existing Admin/Admin Support FTE allocations. It offers the District Office flexibility. "Everyone needs to tighten their belts", Welke added.
Culver responded, "I'm trying to understand..." and "If Administration decides that they cannot live without filling the two vacancies...".
Dave Stackhouse countered by noting that all administration has agreed that the HR position is a top priority and willing to make cuts to have it. Stackhouse added that the reason he would be supporting Welke's motion is that he doesn't believe that this one position is enough to make a difference.
John Whalen commented, "I said I was willing to make cuts [to fill the HR position] but I likely will vote 'No' on this. I want the position, but I'm not comfortable with the strings attached."
Back to Culver again, " I want to be really clear--you are not directing us to cut an Administrative Support position. In my mind [hiring the HR position is dead on the vine...but we'll talk about it. You are taking it out of the [2011-12] budget, even though it fits the board parameters. It's not about what we want...we just present the need. I don't want an expectation that this [position] is going to happen."
Diedrich commented that she felt, " ...like I'm on a sinking ship and I have to choose between saving my twin sister or my mother."
Stackhouse called the question.
Motion & Voting
Hire up to 1.0 FTE, 260 days per year, Human Relations and Recruitment Specialist as soon as practical using the approved job description. This position would be a "project position" expiring at the end of FY 2012-13 unless specifically reauthorized by the School Board after January 1, 2013. This position would be in the Administrative Support Staff group with a salary not to exceed $55,016 ($26.45 per hour) per school year with funding coming only from grants and/or existing or reallocated administrative or administrative support staff FTE.
Motion by John M Welke, second by Terry Shimek.
Final Resolution: Motion Carried
Yea: David Stackhouse, John M Welke, Terry Shimek
Nay: Caren Diedrich, John Whalen
Welke crafted a motion that addresses all angles of this discussion. It is taxpayer friendly by not introducing a new $75K position into the budget. It does not use any SPEA or Local 60 FTE allocations that had been previously discussed as a means to fund it in the current year. It allows the position to be filled immediately, hopefully taking advantage of this opportunity, with 71 openings to be filled, to increase the diversity of the teaching staff.
It comes with a sunset clause. If the position is not successful in increasing staff diversity and cultural acceptance within the district, then we are not "stuck" with the position. Nobody is placed in a difficult role of cutting the very thing we are trying to implement. If it's not successful, it will not be renewed. That simple. At the same time, the motion allows the position to be renewed and made permanent if significant positive impact is observed.
Finally, the motion offers flexibility. The district has loudly and clearly proclaimed that the position is their top priority. They have it in their diversity action plan. It's time for the rubber to hit the road and administration to buck up and make the hard decisions for which they get paid the big bucks. Big boy (and girl) pants time!
Culver Exposed
It was abundantly clear that Culver wants to both have and eat his cake. While all along he has emphasized what an important piece of the puzzle this position is, he backpedaled quicker than Darrelle Revis Monday night. The only way this position would be allowed on Culver Island is if the position came as a NEW position, ADDING to the total Administrative salary pool.
Culver's simple statement, "In my mind [this HR position] is dead on the vine." spoke volumes.
Welke can play with the big dogs!
A good compromise, a good piece of legislation, is like a good sentence; or a good piece of music. Everybody can recognize it. They say, 'Huh. It works. It makes sense.'
---Barack Obama
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