Tempe Elementary board approves updated job descriptions, safety lead, five microbuses and a student-teacher affiliation

The Tempe Elementary School District governing board approved several staffing updates and a college affiliation aimed at filling operational needs and supporting student placements.

Administrators presented a rewritten director of student information systems job description to replace the district's longtime manager of Synergy, who is retiring in June. The staff presentation said the new director position is FTE-neutral and emphasizes programming skills to maintain Synergy integrations. "This position would replace Mr. Bill Robinson," administrators said, noting the position will continue to manage the district's student information system.

The board also approved a consolidated head of athletics and community services role that collapses the vacant PE coordinator duties into one administrative position to oversee athletics, facility rentals and liaison work with the City of Tempe and Tempe Police Department. Dr. Driscoll said the role would not require new funding and would use an existing administrative FTE.

On safety, the board approved a reimagined safety and security lead position intended to be more proactive and to unify safety systems across the district, including alarms, keys, camera systems and crisis communications. The presenter said preferred experience includes law enforcement, dispatch or other life-safety backgrounds.

The board approved a new non-CDL school bus driver job classification to operate microbuses. Director of Transportation told the board the district plans to purchase four 14-passenger microbuses and one 12-passenger vehicle with a wheelchair lift (five vehicles total) and that the district would provide required CPR/first-aid training, DOT physicals and fingerprint clearance. The classification is intended to speed hiring by removing the CDL requirement for these smaller vehicles.

Finally, the board approved a standard educational affiliation agreement with Brookline College to host student-teacher practicums and allied-health placements; Dr. Driscoll said lawyers reviewed the agreement and indicated it was acceptable.

Each of the job descriptions and the affiliation agreement was presented as FTE-neutral or covered by existing resources. Board members asked clarifying questions about responsibilities, funding and training; all items were moved, seconded and approved during the meeting.

What happens next: Human resources and district administrators will begin recruitment and onboarding for approved positions; transportation will proceed with the microbus purchases and route assignments under existing FTE allocations; the affiliation agreement will allow college students to pursue practicum experiences in district schools.