School district staffing plan clears hurdle

School board member Allison Campbell speaks during a meeting at the Marion County Public School Board in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

In a 3-2 vote, the Marion County School Board has approved the proposed 2023-24 District Staffing Plan over concerns from some members that the latest version of the plan differs significantly from what was initially proposed.

The Marion County Public Schools Human Resources Department developed the proposal, which was drafted to redefine district administration positions. However, job titles listed go beyond administrators to include positions such as bus drivers, custodians, mechanics, and other vital members who contribute to the educational system. 

The plan calls for many reassignments through vacancies, staff cuts and new hires. The personnel adjustments mean a reduction of seven positions from the previous fiscal year, from a total of 1,727 employees to 1,720. Support Services will see the greatest loss, losing 26 members, while Health Services will see the largest gain, adding 19 staff positions. 

After considering these shifts and impacts on employee paygrades, the Human Resources and Budgeting departments have calculated the current plan will cost $3 million more than the current year. Budget priorities are continually developing to support this, and the district will propose a balanced budget to the school board on July 24. 

After more workshops based on board members’ concerns, the district will bring forth a final 2023-2024 budget in early September.

Superintendent Diane Gullett told the board the plan was derived from the recommendations of people closest to the work and is what the schools need. 

The plan was first reviewed by the board during June 1 and June 15 work sessions before being approved on June 27. Despite those discussions, board members remained hesitant to approve the plan because of financial concerns with budgeting new positions. 

Board Chair Allison Campbell expressed how the June 27 version of the plan no longer resembles the document originally proposed with the superintendent’s vision. 

“As an individual board member, I look at what was originally presented to the board from the superintendent and where the document lies now and see multiple areas where this board has encouraged position changes and position additions that I believe fundamentally undermines the authority of the board’s employee, Superintendent Gullett, whose job it is to provide the how of the school district,” Campbell said. 

Campbell added that she struggled reasoning with expenses of the different drafts, saying each change comes with a significant cost. She also stated how recurring positions do not have a clear funding source. More unknown expenses she included were salary changes for two collectively bargained groups of employees. 

“Therefore, approving the District Staffing Plan as presented, at the price tag with which it comes, does not make fiscal sense to me as an individual board member,” Campbell expressed. 

Echoing the chair’s concerns, Board Member Eric Cummings said it was not in the board’s best interest to approve the proposal. 

“I won’t be voting yes for this either because when I see us adding positions that are high-level positions, that carry a loftier salary,’’ he said. “I have grave concerns when we have so many challenges in our classrooms on the lower levels.”

Gullett told the board the district cannot move forward with the plan without a balanced budget. MCPS Chief Financial Officer Theresa Boston-Ellis spoke in response to board questions and said they have notified department heads to cut 20% of their budget. 

Other board members advocated for the plan.

“Here we sit tonight needing to make a decision and I’m trying to decide if I’m more uncomfortable with delaying or passing it, hoping that it passes, and knowing that we will come together like we always do to make adjustments where needed,” Vice Chair Nancy Thrower said. 

Thrower said the staffing plan is a known entity and is necessary to support the schools in what they need, in and of their staff. She also pointed out to the members of the board at odds with the plan that administrative costs have gone up in many districts and that MCPS is “nowhere near the top of districts in being top-heavy.” 

Board Member Sarah James advocated for the plan and told the board they cannot falter. She agreed the added positions are not “top heavy” but support existing personnel. 

“I believe that we are going to figure out the budget, but I think that it comes with making sure that we’re prioritizing what our students need,” James said. 

Lastly, in support of the plan, Board Member Lori Conrad said there are struggles in the school district she does not see improving without additional leadership positions, which the document provides.