Manchester School Committee approves executive-leadership reorganization, adds assistant superintendent

The Manchester School Committee on March 10 approved a reorganization of the district's executive leadership and revised job descriptions that eliminate two network director positions and add a third assistant superintendent.

Superintendent Camille told the committee the change replaces two network directors with a third assistant superintendent and that the reorganization, as presented, produces a net savings. "We still have a total savings of about 231,639," the superintendent said during the presentation.

The board heard that removing the two network directors reduced costs by roughly $430,000 while the new assistant superintendent position would increase costs by just under $200,000. The superintendent said salaries in the revised job descriptions are listed as "to be determined at time of posting" so the administration can set current ranges when positions are posted. "What we found is those hadn't been [updated]," she said of older job descriptions.

Why it matters: The change reshapes who oversees curriculum and operations at the district level and realigns responsibilities among assistant superintendents. Committee members said the shift could affect curriculum alignment across grade bands and raised questions about operational transparency, including what positions the board must explicitly approve.

Discussion and board action Committee member Benilla moved to approve the reorganization chart and accompanying job descriptions; committee member Sowell seconded. Vice Chairman O'Connell proposed — and the committee accepted as a friendly amendment — language making explicit that the motion included the reduction of two network director positions and the addition of a third assistant superintendent, reflecting the substance of the change.

Multiple members pressed the administration to add salary ranges to the job descriptions. Committee member Baines said transparency was important to counter perceptions of central-office "bloat" and asked for current salary information in addition to the proposed "to be determined at time of posting" note. The superintendent said the administration would insert current salaries where appropriate and begin an annual update for non‑union positions.

Board members also asked for follow-up work. The superintendent said this reorganization focuses on the executive team first and that each department will next review its internal structure and staffing needs. "Each department will be looking at what their organization chart looks like," she said.

Outcome: The motion, as amended to name the eliminated and added positions, was approved by the committee.

Clarifying details - Cost impact: removal of two network directors estimated to save about $430,000; added third assistant superintendent estimated at just under $200,000; net savings reported by the superintendent: approximately $231,639. - Salary language: job descriptions presented with "to be determined at time of posting"; board members asked the administration to include current salary ranges where feasible and to develop an annual update process. - Next steps: departments will review and propose further changes to their organizational charts and job descriptions; the administration said additional staffing proposals would come back to the board as needed.

Speakers quoted or cited in this story are members of the Manchester School Committee and district staff present at the March 10 meeting.