USD 250 uses extra funds |
Several times this year, Pittsburg USD 250 has added back programs or positions that had faded into the background when financial problems had mounted. With those problems in the very near past thanks to extra school finance dollars from the Kansas Supreme Court, the latest addition for USD 250 was a human resources and communications coordinator, Tina Jones. "The district had this position as a half-time position in the past," said USD 250 Superintendent Gary Price. "When that person left, we were struggling with finances so we didn't rehire anyone. When the strategic planning committees met last spring, that was one of the recommendations, that we add that position back." Price said that the position was a popular one among the committees. "What's interesting is that it came from multiple committees," Price said. "It came from three different ones. They said that they missed that regular communication with the school district." So the district set aside $20,000 in this school year's budget to hire a part-time communications director. What they got was Jones, a former St. Mary's-Colgan administrator for a full-time position that included both communications and human resources responsibilities. She will be paid $33,000 per year. "It's kind of a combined function, this position," Jones said. "It's the communications position and they also combined it with the human resources coordinator position. There are so many great things going on in the school system. They really want to put those things out there." That information will be relayed through a combination of newsletters and brochures, along with an updated web site and the expansion of the district's television channel. "We'll really start building on these things at the start of the year," Jones said. "We want to form a partnership with parents and people in the community. We have to do everything we can to put out the information for the patrons and stakeholders of the district." Jones said that she enjoyed working with the schools and was excited about her new position. "I have a love for education, I was employed by St. Mary's-Colgan," Jones said. "If you've ever spent time in a school building, there's a liveliness there. It's a passion that I have and its the area in which I feel like I can make the greatest contribution." The Morning Sun, (www.morningsun.net) December 20, 2005 |
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