T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM Marshalltown Community School Board President Sean Heitmann listens to Superintendent Theron Schutte explain a proposal to reorganize district administration. The proposal was presented at the regular Monday meeting.

Before making any decisions on reorganizing the Marshalltown Community School District administration, the board has requested more information.

Brought before the school board during the regular Monday meeting by Superintendent Theron Schutte, the intention of the reorganization is to create two new positions after the upcoming departure of Matt Cretsinger, director of special services. One position would focus exclusively on special education and the other over student services.

“As any cabinet-level position departure leads one to take a look at what the needs of the district are and the positions that are there administratively to serve them,” Schutte said. ” . . . To cut to the chase, during Matt’s tenure with the district, to his credit his position has grown significantly, particularly in the student services arena.”

Historically, he said that position has overseen counselors, nurses, school resource specialists and was involved in foster care. Schutte said another aspect they are trying to figure out how to fit is the equity piece as it relates to human resources and student services.

Looking at school districts of similar size was important and he does not want MCSD overstaffed in administration. Schutte truly believes in splitting Cretsinger’s position, it would be along the lines of what other districts have in place and would be best in moving MCSD forward.

Finding the right people for the positions is important as Schutte said the district is unique with the needs of the students who are at risk and in special education. The positions have already been posted in anticipation of the board’s approval. Schutte said they will not be ready to interview until the beginning of the new year.

“There’s not an immediate rush,” he said.

The reorganization would also include changing the title of director of instruction, filled by Shauna Smith, to associate superintendent of education services. Schutte said it is not unusual for districts of similar size or larger to have one or more associate superintendents. Also, the title of director of business operations, filled by Randy Denham, would be changed to executive director of finance and operations.

“That doesn’t change any of his current and existing responsibilities. It just, in my opinion, more accurately reflects the administrative pathway relative to finance and operations and educational services,” Schutte said.

The oversight of building principals would be a shared responsibility. Schutte would oversee principals of grades fifth to 12 and Smith, preschool through fourth. He said by splitting the oversights that way, it coincides with their previous education backgrounds.

“We will continue to work very collaboratively in terms of those positions,” he said.

The last change would be moving the supervisor of safety and security, which is filled by Eric Weeden as the coordinator, to be under Denham.

“A large part of that is the operations part of facilities,” Schutte said. “He probably spends as much, if not more, working directly with Randy than he does with me on operational plans.”

In a perfect world, Schutte would also like to see the creation of a director of community engagement. He is not sure they are at a point to do so, but wants it on the board’s radar.

Board member Zach Wahl asked if there was a concern making the changes would create more responsibilities for Denham. He said previous audit reports showed the district was doing a lot with few people.

Denham said there would not be much of a change from what is happening now.

Board member Elizabeth Wise requested more information on how other districts work with associate superintendents and how MCSD compares. Board member Leah Stanley asked for the decisions to be separated into different motions.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.comm.