GREENFIELD — Greenfield-Central schools’ administrative staff will look much different heading into next school year, the superintendent says.
Over the past few months, corporation officials and the Greenfield-Central School Board have been working to restructure the district’s staff, Superintendent Harold Olin said. He didn’t specify what would change, but Olin said the public will “likely see” adjustments by July 1 to the number of people on staff as well as work responsibilities. Olin said more decisions will come once the school year wraps up.
“The board and I have worked to deliberately curb our administrative costs with the goal of maintaining a high level of expertise to support our students and staff. This has necessitated some changes,” Olin wrote in an email to the Daily Reporter.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryOlin said the shift in personnel and work duties is part of the “natural evolution that takes place in most businesses our scale.” G-C is a $50 million district with more than 500 employees, Olin added.
In February, the school board hired Scott Kern, a former G-C teacher, as director of human resources; and Nate Day as business manager and food services director. Day had been the interim business manager since September. That month, the board also approved a nearly two-week leave for three administrators — Tony Zurwell, Christy Hilton and Ann Vail — following an internal investigation.
Zurwell, the district’s former business manager of 13 years, announced his retirement following the leave. Vail returned to her post as associate superintendent, while Hilton, who most recently had worked as the assistant superintendent for G-C, went on paid leave for a second time, from Sept. 24 until Oct. 22.
Since returning to work at the end of October, Hilton, whose salary is $105,583, has been on “special assignment,” Olin said. Hilton wrote in an email to the Daily Reporter that her new duties have included updating district job descriptions as well as board and administrative policies and manuals.
Hilton started working for G-C in 1997 and has focused on a variety of projects as director of human resources and assistant superintendent. She’s the primary grant writer for the corporation. She also expanded school vendor options; worked on agreements to bring school resource officers to buildings; led the team that created the one-to-one initiative; and supervised many other districtwide programs.
“The education landscape in Indiana and nationally continues to evolve. I am thankful that I am able to focus my time and talents on the programs and initiatives Dr. Olin has identified and will continue to identify in order to keep Greenfield-Central Schools a top choice for staff, students and their families,” Hilton wrote.
Hilton added that she’s glad the corporation hired Kern to oversee human resources and focus on teacher recruitment and retention in the midst of a statewide teacher shortage and changes to teacher pay.
Kern started his career as a Greenfield-Central High School teacher in 1990. He also worked as an associate principal there before leaving to work for three different school corporations as an administrator. Most recently, Kern was the director of ministries for Park Chapel Christian Church for five years. The board hired Kern with a contract that lasts through June 30, 2021. His annual salary is $104,579.
Throughout that time, Kern kept his residence in Greenfield, where he and his wife raised their family.
“(Greenfield-Central Schools) is a district committed to helping students learn at the highest level, which is something I have experienced as a teacher, administrator and parent,” Kern said. “I believe in the vision and mission of the district and am excited to be back home.”
Day has also lived in Greenfield for the past few decades while working in school and government finance since 2003 as a consultant, business manager for three corporations and as the director of strategic sourcing for the state. He will oversee the business office as well as the food services and building and grounds departments. Day’s contract is through June 30, 2020 and has a salary of $104,579.
“Working for G-C is an opportunity to positively effect our community by supporting the great things happening in our schools,” Day said. “It means a lot to me to have the opportunity to support my hometown school corporation.”
