As Clarkston school administration and Board of Education puts its Strategic Plan into practice, a proposed finance committee is of concern to a board trustee.
“Based on what’s written here, I don’t feel this is appropriate,” said Trustee Cheryl McGinnis at the Oct. 13 meeting. “I, as a board member, do not feel we board members have the knowledge and professional expertise to ‘allocate resources to student learning.'”
Board President Rosalie Lieblang said the committee would provide direction and feedback to administration, not get into details.
Decisions would be made at meetings of the whole board, Lieblang said.
The committee is in the plan’s financial focus area, which was written by business office Executive Director Mary Beth Rogers.
It would include three school board members, Superintendent Dr. Rod Rock, and Rogers. Duties would include “financial forecasts, financial trends and their current and future impact on Clarkston Community Schools, as well as recommendations for cost savings and maximizing resources,” as written in the strategic plan. The plan was approved by the board earlier this year.
Membership could be modified, if the board desires, to balance the two sides by adding another administrator, Rogers said.
The committee, which would be created by next July, would ensure administration and school board are on the same page when developing plans and budgets, said board Treasurer Joan Patterson.
“Then, when they bring it to the board, there would hopefully be less questions, and it would be easier for the board to understand,” Patterson said.
“I just want it to be effective and not take time from administration,” McGinnis said. “I’d hate to see administrators and board members sitting in a committee meeting for four hours, then talking about the same things at the board meeting for four more hours.”
Administration is developing plans to implement strategies in student performance, human resources, operations, and communications, as well as finances.
McGinnis said the board should not use the strategic plan to micromanage administration.
“I think of this document as a template to build trust between the board and administration,” she said.
Patterson said the plan, in its first year of implementation, is an evolving document.
“We’ll work through it and make adjustments,” she said. “It’s a continual process.”
Board Vice President Susan Boatman agreed.
“What I’m hoping to do is avoid some of the things that’s gone on the past couple of years,” Boatman said. “Let’s get on paper what we want to do to make sure we’re all supportive.”