District announces administration changes

Sisters Schools Superintendent Jim Golden announced changes in administration to staff last week.

In a June 30 memo to staff, he announced that "I have asked that (high school principal) Joe Hosang take on additional work in the area of reporting and being the district test coordinator. In order to help Joe manage the high school, Mark Stewart will be moving back to SHS to be a Student Management Specialist and help with direction services. Becky Stoughton, who spent 10 years as an elementary teacher and another seven years as an instructional coach for elementary teachers in Redmond, will become the principal of Sisters Elementary School."

Golden explained the rationale for the moves:

"Given that we did not replace some retirees or staff who have moved on to other jobs, as well as laying people off, we again find ourselves in a situation where we will be very busy trying to fill holes in terms of the many tasks these folks have done for us. We are also under the weight of having to complete and monitor 34 reports to the State of Oregon, as well as manage another 25 grants, which support programming for the Sisters School District."

The district intends to seek a maintenance/construction bond from Sisters voters this fall.

"When we do pass this bond ... I will have to spend a considerable amount of time managing projects for the district," Golden noted. "I will also be busy lobbying the legislature for better school funding for the Sisters School District."

The district spent the spring wrestling with an $800,000 shortfall for next school year. Last month, the school board adopted a $15,660,170 budget resolution for the 2014-2015 school year.

This figure represents a $500,000 reduction over last year's budget, and partially addresses the $800,000 shortfall predicted in March of this year. The balance of the shortfall is expected to come from reduction of days or personnel.

Annual labor contract negotiations with certified employees are ongoing.