The Warren County School Board of Directors approved the addition of a secretarial position but not before two members of the Warren County School District clashed on the necessity of the position.
Prior to the special board meeting, four rapid-fire committee meetings were held. In the old business section of the Personnel, Athletics and Co-Curricular committee agenda, Director of Human Resources Karen Pascale presented a comparison of WCSD and other school districts in terms of human resource department support staff.
Her argument - too much work, not enough people.
In the comparison, Pascale illustrated the necessity of a full-time secretary with ratios. In Millcreek Township School District, there is a ratio of 133 district employees for each human resource staff member. In WCSD, the ratio is 235 employees per human resource staff member.
The comparison also used Monroe Township School District, the former employer of Superintendent Dr. Robert Terrill. Although Monroe Township School District didn't have human resource department, the comparison showed, using as little as four administration members, it would create a ratio of 164 to one.
"All together, they had 15 administrators. We never had a personnel department," Terrill said of his former employer. "That's a cheap way to do it. I'm not sure if you want to present this department."
Considering the different ratios, Pascale said, "Regardless, if you look at the amount of employees we interview....it's quite enormous."
Although Pascale focused on the ratios, Terrill noted, "Millcreek has only three people in its HR department and we have three and a half."
Terrill continued and said he couldn't recommend the new position.
"We don't have it budgeted," he added.
"I believe we definitely need to have this addition," Pascale said. "Not just the person but the hours."
According to Pascale, there is a current part-time position that would be eliminated for the creation of the secretary to director of human resources. The change would cost the school district about $16,893 in addition costs per year.
School board president Kim Angove asked if employees in Pascale's office were able to get their work done.
"No," Pascale said, adding that when the administrative assistant is absent, "things get backed up."
At the special meeting, the motion passed with five of the eight present board members voting in the affirmative. Board members Donna Zariczny, Tom Knapp and Dave Wortman voted against the measure.