School District sees central office exodus as reorganization plan takes shape

It’s not just Metro School students that are out for the summer, many school district central office staff have chosen the summertime to make their departures.

First, school district Chief Instructional Officer Sandy Johnson left the school district in January. Soon to follow this summer is charter school liaison Nancy Dill and Julie Water, executive assistant to the Director of Schools, both to retirement.

And the latest central office staffer to test the waters is Director of Employee Relations Brenda King who is making a play to be an interim replacement for the departing Memphis City Schools superintendent, according to reports from the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Requests for information from Director of Schools Pedro Garcia were directed to schools spokesperson Woody McMillin who said district officials were not ready to comment on the movement of personnel and Garcia’s reorganization plan.

“We’ll be making an announcement probably… sometime soon about our plans for the upcoming year and what we’ll be doing, but at this point we’re just not ready to make an announcement,” McMillin said.

School Board member George Thompson said there was cause for concern any time a school district like Metro Schools makes drastic changes in administrators.

“That reorganization is significant, in my opinion, it’s almost creating a new school administration,” Thompson said. “It calls for concern depending on who is rehired and who is not because the depth and background of experience is vital to moving forward a school system.”

Garcia announced his plans to reorganize the central office at a school board retreat several weeks ago. Board Chair Marsha Warden said yesterday that trying to “put in a more balanced organizational chart has been the desire of the director and the board.”

One move that will directly affect School Board members is that of the Board Secretary Melissa Bryant. Bryant will be replacing Waters, who is retiring from the district, as Executive Assistant to the Director.

Warden said the board would certainly feel the loss of Bryant, who managed everything from board members’ schedules to policy governance processes, but is confident the director will find someone to fill her position.

“[Bryant] has provided a great deal of support for new board members about everything… she will definitely be missed,” Warden said.

Thompson said he couldn’t say for sure whether the movement in the central office would ultimately be a good or bad thing but understood that Garcia has the discretion to do as he wishes with his staff.

“[The movement] is deep and it’s greater than I’ve experienced in my 12 or 13 years with the board,” Thompson said.