Poll: Should the School District Hire an Assistant Superintendent?

Wednesday's school board discussion about possibly hiring a new assistant superintendent exposed further mistrust that has been growing between the community and top school officials.

San Bruno Park School District Superintendent David Hutt made a recommendation to the board that more administrative support was needed again at the district office because the district could be run more effectively with a dedicated employee overseeing programs such as special education, attendance, curriculum, professional development and student discipline.

Many of those tasks had been previously handled by an assistant superintendent. But ever since in December, Hutt has been assuming most of those roles and the district has been who was hired on a temporary basis to work part-time in San Bruno.

"The topic is brought back for discussion in response to the Governing Board's interest to restore district level administration, thereby relieving site administrators of the responsibilities," Hutt said in a staff report.

However, when Hutt brought up the recommendation at the special board meeting, many parents and school employees balked at the idea of the district hiring a new district administrator to the tune of more than $100,000 when . Crestmoor Elementary Principal Ryan Haven also just announced that from his position at the end of the year, meaning the school district will have to find someone who will be the principal at both Crestmoor and Rollingwood schools.

Some suggested that hiring a special education director or restoring the Rollingwood principal's job would be more fiscally responsible. 

Currently, Hutt acts as the district's special education coordinator despite the fact that . According to the study, which was funded with proceeds from the sale of the Carl Sandburg site, the special education position would cost $80,000 a year but save the district more than $450,000.

What do you think the school district should do?