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Board hears proposal for marketing/communications coordinator; community members and trustees raise cost and mission questions
Summary
Administration proposed a marketing and communications coordinator to centralize social media, community life and external messaging; board members requested a financial breakdown and several public commenters criticized the idea during call to the public.
District administration presented a proposed staff position described as a marketing and communications coordinator, intended to centralize web and social-media content, community-life publications and some athletic-marketing tasks. The proposal was presented as a response to earlier board direction about turning on social-media comments and improving two-way communications.
What was proposed
Administration said the new position would absorb work currently done through a mix of contractors and community-education staff and would be funded in part by reshuffling those existing dollars. The draft job posting presented a base salary range of roughly $65,000 to $72,000; administrators said the all-in cost to the district (salary plus benefits) could be materially higher and would depend on benefit elections.
Public comment and board reaction
Several members of the public criticized the proposal during the call to the public: - Angela Yarber called the idea "ludicrous," saying money should instead go to building repairs and classroom needs and urged termination of the superintendent's contract as the solution to district messaging problems. - Len Patella criticized creating the new position as unnecessary and said he feared nepotism and waste. - Wes Nakagiri and other speakers urged priority for instructional needs, student achievement and legal concerns rather than a new communications hire.
Board members asked staff to provide a detailed cost comparison showing current contractors and staff time that would be reallocated to the new position, and to provide an "all-in" cost estimate including benefits. Trustees also discussed whether existing student or program resources (for example, the high-school DECA or business classes) could be used to produce communications content or provide practical experience for students.
Administration response and next steps
Superintendent Chuck Hughes said he and CFO Rachel Boyce would compile a list of current costs for outsourced social-media content, community-life publications and athletic marketing so the board can evaluate whether the proposed position reduces net spending. The board did not vote on the proposed position; members requested the financial breakdown and more detail before any further action.
Ending
The board directed staff to return with a cost-offset analysis and a clear statement of the duties that would be consolidated under the proposed position before the board considers creating the role.
