Link to the Original Story

CES 95 hires new assistant superintendent

Submitted by Carbondale Times on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 12:40

Leah Williams
Carbondale Times

The Carbondale Elementary School Board District 95 voted unanimously Feb. 23 to hire Justin Miller as the new assistant superintendent for the 2012-2013 school year.

Miller comes to the district from Cairo District No. 1, where he served as the school’s chief executive officer. Miller said he anticipates a lot of positive things to occur during his time at District 95, both professionally and within the city.

“I am very excited,” Miller said following the meeting. “I look forward to the challenges of a larger district and just being part of the community.”

Miller received his bachelor’s degree from Johnson University in Knoxville and his master’s degree in business administration from St. Xavier University in Chicago. He later earned his education specialty through Eastern Illinois University.

Originally from Enfield in Hamilton County, Miller said he had always chosen school and a career path in the Midwest because he likes the familiarity of the area.

“I grew up around here and it’s what I’ve known,” he said.

Miller replaces current assistant superintendent John Williams, who is retiring at the end of the current school year.

(CAT Tracks Editor's Note: The article continues with District 95 stuff)

CAT Tracks Editor's Note:

Unlike Mulder, I (do not) Want to Believe...

...but back to adages and clichés:

Seeing is believing.

Thanks to the Carbondale Times...

DAMN!

POSTSCRIPT:

I'm happy for Justin.

I'm sad for the students, parents, and employees of Cairo School District Number One.

For a brief shining moment...

Have heard a rumor...

...that the powers that be, aware of the negative reaction to their February 22nd "Dance of the Lemons" (where ten applicants became an unimpressive two) are trying to turn their fiasco back on Justin...saying "Justin left us in a lurch, leaving to take the Carbondale job", implying that if he had only stayed, he would have been anointed.

Yeah, right.

If the rumor is true, well, I'm sorry...that dog won't hunt. As I said yesterday...CSD #1 f...uh, foolishly messed up. (Certainly no surprise there...it's standard operating procedure - SOP here, some might say SNAFU.)

Justin Miller wanted to stay. He was left twisting in the wind...forced to make a decision to protect himself and the welfare of his family. (Another rumor was that Justin's original position as District Business Manager was to be cut, RIFed...that whomever the new superintendent would be would perform the duties of both positions.)

I ask you...

If you were Justin, placed in that position...what would you do?

So, again, I'm happy for Justin, sad for CSD #1 (our loss is District 95's gain), and mad at CSD #1 powers that be.

FOOTNOTE:

Finally...

Mr. Miller's Rose Garden.

In an earlier post, I remarked on how one never had to feel sorry for those forced to leave Cairo School District Number One...that they ALWAYS landed on their feet, ALWAYS found a bed of roses.

Immediately below is the job description of Assistant Superintendent in Carbondale Elementary District 95...

...the position for which Justin Miller was hired - UNANIMOUSLY - on the evening of February 23rd:

The Board of Education of Carbondale Elementary School District #95, Carbondale, Illinois is receiving applications for the position of Assistant Superintendent. CES95 has a current student enrollment of 1,431 in Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 8, a professional staff of 114, and an educational support staff of 49.

All inquiries from applicants concerning the position of Assistant Superintendent should be directed to Mr. Michael J. Shimshak, Superintendent, CES95 Administrative Center, 925 S. Giant City Road, Carbondale, IL 62902 or by phoning 618-457-3591 x. 2102.

The duties and responsibilities for an Assistant Superintendent in the CES95 are listed on the back of this announcement.

• The salary range for the position is $119,165 ~ $127,676 (including board paid retirement). Actual first year salary will be determined by professional preparation, successful teaching/administrative experience, as well as other qualifications.
• An additional travel reimbursement of $250/month for 12 months ($3,000 annually) is also provided.
• Benefits:
  • Board paid life insurance
  • $585/mo Health Insurance
  • Twenty (20) Sick Leave Days
  • Two (2) Personal Leave Days
  • Ten (10) Vacation Leave Days
• Contract will be for twelve (12) months beginning July 1, 2012. Prior experience as an administrator is required.

To receive consideration, a completed application, a formal letter expressing why you are interested in this position, a current resume, an official transcript direct from education institution (s) and copies of legal proof of Type 75 – General Administrative Certification (K-12) should be received by Friday, January 13, 2012 and should be addressed to:

Mr. Michael J. Shimshak

CES95 Administrative Center

925 South Giant City Road

Carbondale, IL 62902

Please mark any correspondence and/or envelopes:

“ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT’S APPLICATION – CONFIDENTIAL”

Carbondale Elementary School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Title: Assistant Superintendent

Qualifications: MS Degree. Valid Illinois Teaching and Administrative Certificates. Meets the qualifications and requirements as specified in Title 23, the Illinois Administrative Code.

Supervises:Financial Operations, Purchasing, Maintenance & Custodial Operations, Cafeteria Services, and Transportation Contract.

Reports To: Superintendent

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Supervises all accounting operations and the management of the financial affairs of the schools.

2. Serves in absence of the Superintendent as the chief administrative officer of the District.

3. Serves as the School Treasurer for the District.

4. Supervises the District’s supporting services of transportation, purchasing, food services, maintenance and custodial.

5. Establishes and supervises a program of accounting adequate to record in detail all money and credit transactions.

6. Supervises the payroll operations of the District.

7. Supervises the collection, safekeeping and distribution of all funds.

8. Manages the District’s real estate and insurance programs.

9. Acts as advisor to the Superintendent on all questions relating to the business and financial affairs of the District.

10. Assists in recruiting, hiring, training, supervising and evaluating all clerical, maintenance, custodial, food service, financial and support staff personnel.

11. Arranges for the internal auditing of school accounts.

12. Supervises the completion of annual inventories and requisitions for areas of responsibility.

13. Monitors all purchase requisitions to determine correctness of information, price extensions and account code.

14. Under the direction of the Superintendent is responsible for development of the annual budget and long-range financial planning.

15. Initiates contacts with vendors relative to supply and equipment availability, invoices, purchase orders and contracts.

16. Prepares all bidding documents, including notice to bidders, instructions to bidders, specifications and form of proposal.

17. Serves as member of the Administrative Council, Board Finance Committee, Board Land and Building Committee, and the Board Negotiations Committee.

18. Performs such other tasks and assumes such other responsibilities as the Superintendent may assign.

CAT Tracks Editor's Note:

Can I make one final catty comment?

Oh, that's right...it's my website!

I can say whatever I damn well please...

The position described above, the position that will be Justin Miller's come July 1, 2012.

"He who shall remain nameless"...

...would have taken this position in a heartbeat! More money, closer to Chicago!! All you would have heard was the screech of rubber on the pavement, all you would have seen was a cloud of dust!!!

Until, of course, the dust cleared...then that finger a-waggin'.

And, yes...

A final, final catty comment:

On the job description for Assistant Superintendent of District 95...

...there was one unlisted benefit (because it only applied to a narrow audience.)

The "amended" list of benefits is immediately below...

Benefits:
• Board paid life insurance
• $585/mo Health Insurance
• Twenty (20) Sick Leave Days
• Two (2) Personal Leave Days
• Ten (10) Vacation Leave Days
• Don't have to put up with CSD#1's sh*t anymore

Sadly...

...in my heart of hearts, I know that if only the Cairo Board of Education had offered Justin the position of Superintendent of Schools, he would have accepted it and never looked back.

It's amazing really...

How employees of Cairo School District Number One will turn the other cheek...again and again and again.

Outsiders must wonder...

"Are those folks masochistic or what?"

As one who served, I can answer that query with a resounding "NO!"

It hurts, but it is definitely NOT enjoyable.

CSD #1 has been fortunate indeed...to attract dedicated educators who see a need and want to fill it. It doesn't take newcomers long to discover the camaraderie of those who labor in the trenches, suffering the veritable slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. It is the bonding that occurs among those exposed to conflict and as we saw in the movie "Between Two Rivers"...

Conflict: Thy Name is Cairo!

Justin Miller is the latest collateral damage...

...a victim of a school district willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on incompetent superintendents and the lawyers to defend their outrageous and often illegal actions. (Not my "opinion"...the findings of arbitrators, administrative law judges, and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board.)

...a victim of a school district unwilling to recognize and reward competence.

And that brings us full circle...

...back to HOPE.

RIP

Used up the "footnote" and "postscript", so let me just say...

In conclusion:

I'm done with it...

...getting that "dead horse" vibe.

I mean, what more is there to say?

We was robbed...and it was an inside job!

The deed is done, not to be undone.

So...

I shall say no more, forever.

DISCLAIMER:

In the event that what I have forecast (the return of "he who shall remain nameless" on July 1st) does, indeed, rear its ugly head, well, all bets are off.

All hell will break loose in the pages of CAT Tracks!!!

In fact, I am so certain of the permanent insanity of Cairo School District Number One officials that I am already planning the re-release (for Oscar attention) of "CAT Journal: Friday the 13th".

Still don't believe me?

Check your calendar...for July. See what day of the week the 13th falls on!!!