Patrick's Rants

A little while ago, the Superintendent of our local schools announced that he was retiring effective at the end of December. He stated his reasons for the announcement at this time is to allow for an orderly transition and successfully search for his replacement. Our local newspaper is reporting that two existing assistant supers and an unnamed third will run things until they find his replacement.

And here’s what I got to say ’bout that. This is supposed to cost around $80,000. This includes $6000.00 stipends for the temporary job duties of the existing superintendents to “step up” and take on a few more job duties. In many many many places when someone steps up to take on more job duties that’s called being a team player. No you don’t get extra pay for it. In the private sector there are all kinds of people doing more for the same or less pay. This shouldn’t be any different. Heck, if you really want to pay these guys to help out with the job search give them the stipend. Make it a deferred stipend declining by oh say $1000.00 per month that the job isn’t filled (and when it is filled then Kevin Brown can be jettisoned at no cost – he’s on a month to month contract, heck the amount saved on his contract can even be the source of the stipends). And just so that they don’t hire the first schmo they find on the street let’s tack on a couple of extra stipulations:

1. No Dick Cheny. If you find that you are the best candidate (and I think it’s safe to say that many people want someone outside this small town politic) then no one gets a stipend
2. The new hire needs to stay for – oh say three years minimum. It’s costly to search for and hire qualified candidates. We don’t want to have to pay to do this again in a year or so, because “it didn’t work out”. Cut the stipend by $500.00 per month that the new superintendent leaves short of the three years.
3. Forget about filling this “temporary” director. Concentrate on filling the vacancy.
4. Lastly, you have to stay in your job until three years after the new superintendent comes on board. Don’t stay, no pay. If we have to start a new “search” for your replacement, you get to pay for it by losing your stipend.

Money is a big motivator for most people and I have no doubt that the current staff is no exception. If they have to fill the position with a well qualified person in a fairly short period of time or risk losing out on $6000.00 you can bet the position will be filled with a well qualified person in a short period of time. Heck, I’m willing to start the penalty clock in January. Fill the position by January 30, 2010 and you still qualify for the full stipend – paid out at a monthly rate of $500.00 – in January 2013.