|
|
|
Independence, MO —
The Independence School District is taking a big step to ensure administrators are taking active roles in the community.
The Independence Board of Education approved a regulation revision Tuesday requiring that all staff who have an administrative contract live in the Independence School District. These administrators have until Feb. 1, 2015, to establish residency.
“We are proud of our administrative staff and see them as effective leaders,” said Superintendent Jim Hinson. “We want them to be able to demonstrate that leadership in the community as well.”
According to Regulation 4130, an administrator is defined as anyone who has been “contracted with the district to provide administrative duties on an administrative contract.” This includes the supervision and/or evaluation of other employees. This revision affects not only principals, but also departmental directors, activities directors and assistant principals.
For decades, the school district has required Central Office administrators such as the superintendent and assistant superintendents, to live in the district. Before 2003, that policy also extended to other administrators. However, the board at that time decided to loosen the requirements and apply it only to the Central Office staff. Grain Valley and Fort Osage also require the superintendent to live within the school district, but no other administrators.
Currently, two-thirds of the district’s administrators live outside the school district boundaries, which equates to about 60 people.
A waiver can be requested for staff members who have spouses who also have residency requirements, such as those in law enforcement.
Hinson said while the Board of Education feels strongly about requiring district residency for administrators, he does not believe that the requirement will ever be extended to include other staff, such as teachers.
“We gave the administrators the opportunity to provide feedback. Their number one concern was selling their house and not being able to sell it for what they purchased it for. So there is a financial aspect to this,” Hinson said. “I think, though, a vast majority (of the administrators) are very understanding. I do not believe that there are not objectors, but I think many agree they need to be involved in the community at a greater level. Since they are public employees utilizing public dollars, this is a way to do that.”
The Independence School District is taking a big step to ensure administrators are taking active roles in the community.
The Independence Board of Education approved a regulation revision Tuesday requiring that all staff who have an administrative contract live in the Independence School District. These administrators have until Feb. 1, 2015, to establish residency.
“We are proud of our administrative staff and see them as effective leaders,” said Superintendent Jim Hinson. “We want them to be able to demonstrate that leadership in the community as well.”
According to Regulation 4130, an administrator is defined as anyone who has been “contracted with the district to provide administrative duties on an administrative contract.” This includes the supervision and/or evaluation of other employees. This revision affects not only principals, but also departmental directors, activities directors and assistant principals.
For decades, the school district has required Central Office administrators such as the superintendent and assistant superintendents, to live in the district. Before 2003, that policy also extended to other administrators. However, the board at that time decided to loosen the requirements and apply it only to the Central Office staff. Grain Valley and Fort Osage also require the superintendent to live within the school district, but no other administrators.
Currently, two-thirds of the district’s administrators live outside the school district boundaries, which equates to about 60 people.
A waiver can be requested for staff members who have spouses who also have residency requirements, such as those in law enforcement.
Hinson said while the Board of Education feels strongly about requiring district residency for administrators, he does not believe that the requirement will ever be extended to include other staff, such as teachers.
“We gave the administrators the opportunity to provide feedback. Their number one concern was selling their house and not being able to sell it for what they purchased it for. So there is a financial aspect to this,” Hinson said. “I think, though, a vast majority (of the administrators) are very understanding. I do not believe that there are not objectors, but I think many agree they need to be involved in the community at a greater level. Since they are public employees utilizing public dollars, this is a way to do that.”
