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ISD 194 superintendent outlines new chief-of‑staff role, board approves related employment actions
Summary
Superintendent Michael Baumann described a new chief-of-staff/assistant-superintendent role meant to centralize staff operations; the school board approved employment recommendations that will implement parts of the reorganization and discussed how responsibilities will shift to a forthcoming executive director of teaching and learning.
Superintendent Michael Baumann told the Independent School District 194 Board of Education on June 24 that he is creating a chief-of-staff position to strengthen “system wide leadership and the operational cohesion of our school district.”
The new role, Baumann said, will serve as the primary director of staff operations, supervising executive-level functions and synchronizing priorities across departments. Baumann described responsibilities to include staff operations and task management tied to the district strategic plan, a district-wide budget input process and a quarterly business review system to provide more dynamic data to the board and public.
Baumann said the position will relieve a dual duty currently carried by the assistant superintendent role and allow the district to hire an executive director of teaching and learning focused on curriculum and instruction. He told the board the changes will not be made piecemeal: “It's also support for the role and the work that I have to do, but it'll primarily focus on executive team and director level, across the district.”
Board members asked for clarity about reporting lines and day-to-day supervision. Director Kim Baker sought specifics about what departments previously under the assistant superintendent would report to the chief of staff; Baumann answered that the role will work with “all the executive level and two levels down.” Director Brian Thompson asked whether executive directors would report to the chief of staff; Baumann said executive directors remain accountable to him but will also have to work with the chief of staff for staff actions, describing the relationship as a dotted-line supervisory model.
Baumann and board members discussed timing and transition. He said Dr. Emily McDonald, who currently serves as assistant superintendent, will remain in place during the transition until conditions are set and a new executive director of teaching and learning is hired. Board members pressed for measurable outcomes the board should expect from the change; Baumann cited improved quality assurance, more agile information flow to the board and a structured quarterly business review process.
The board approved the consent agenda item that included the related employment recommendations (item 4b) without additional amendment. Directors voted unanimously to approve the employment recommendations, which the administration presented alongside the reorganization discussion. No separate formal vote specifically creating the chief-of-staff position was recorded; the employment items that incorporate role changes were approved as part of the consent action.
Board members requested a clearer org chart and written descriptions of duties and performance expectations for the new role, and asked administration to return with metrics showing the change’s impact on reporting, transparency and alignment.
Ending: Administration said it will bring the finalized organizational chart and performance measures to a future meeting so the board can monitor the transition and the new supervisory relationships.
