By David Fenker
News Editor
NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The creation of a new marketing, communications and information director was a topic of contention at the November meeting of the Manchester Community Schools Board of School Trustees.
“One of the things the board has asked me to do is to improve the marketing, communication and data management in MCS,” Superintendent Dr. Bill Reichhart said.
He said that he conducted research and came up with a position that would handle responsibilities in those areas.
The director would be responsible for marketing the district in order to attract more transfer students, who bring up to $6,000 in tuition funds. They would also handle a variety of data entry responsibilities to reduce the strain on the administrators, teachers and secretaries who are currently involved in that area.
Board members initially resisted the proposition, voicing concerns over the cost and potential impact as well as the breadth of the position.
“My biggest concern is that it is not a direct benefit to the classroom,” board member Brady Burgess said.
Burgess and Brian Schilling questioned the position most. Reichhart and MCS Business Manager Scott Bumgardner fielded each question, explaining the reasoning behind the large variety of duties and the proposed salary of $45,000 to $50,000, plus benefits. Bumgardner assured the board that the funds were available, and estimated that 80 percent of the cost would come from the district’s Capital Projects Fund due to the technology-related duties of the position.
Schilling motioned to advertise the position, which was passed 6-0.
“Given what we’ve learned, I feel a lot more comfortable with it,” Burgess said.
Near the end of the meeting, Reichhart read a letter from the superintendent of Metropolitan School District of Wabash County inviting Reichhart and Board President Steve Flack to meet to discuss the potential of consolidation. The board discussed the invitation in an executive session later in the evening.