ISD166 to settle on Admin cuts options to present at public meetings

The ISD166 school board is a step closer to deciding on options for reducing administrative costs at Cook County Schools. At Monday’s work session, the board narrowed five possibilities to two and will vote on Tuesday to present them for public input. The public meeting – or meetings – will be held before their next regular meeting, May 17, where a final decision is expected.

Two options remain on the table. One would combine the superintendent with K-12 principal and community education positions. A second option would cut the superintendent position to half time while combining the K-12 principal with community education and Title 1 positions.

The Minnesota School Boards Association informed Superintendent Beth Schwarz that even if the two top administrative jobs were combined, the principal could still claim a principal’s duties, which might then result in a lawsuit. MSBA cited examples. Schwarz said the District’s own attorney disagreed and cited examples where school boards re-defined the principal’s job in order to combine it with that of the superintendent.

The board is expected to adjust both options before bringing them to the public for input. The board had promised the community it would explore administrative reduction options before moving to curricular and teaching staff cuts, if an operating levy was approved. The levy was approved in the November election.