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The Pella School Board approved a restructuring of positions in the High School Administrative office during this week’s meeting. With Principal Mark Lee and Counselor Mike Ballenger both retiring at the end of the school year, it left some vacancies in the office for the board to examine for potential job absorption or reorganization to save money in the budget. Pella Schools Superintendent Mark Wittmer explains the first step in the reorganization process.

“What we’re going to do is instead of hiring back a full-time Assistant Principal – Eric Nelson will become the High School Principal – Eric’s position then will become a half-time Assistant Principal and a half-time Dean,” says Wittmer.

Wittmer says the “Dean” position is not an uncommon one at many Iowa high schools, and often combines the duties of administrative and guidance positions. With the Assistant Principal role filled by a half-time Dean, Wittmer says another opening for an instructional position will create another combination position.

“That will then leave another half-time Dean position that we’ll combine with a half-time social studies position,” says Wittmer. “We’re going to try to absorb a half-time administrative position and a half-time social studies position, and see if we can get the job done. [There’s] certainly no guarantees, we are hoping that will work; and we feel comfortable that there’s a good enough chance that it will work that we should try it.”

Wittmer says the reorganization is one of many ways the district will look to reduce costs while they wait to find out how much state aide the Iowa Legislature will secure for schools.