ISN’T IT TIME TO DISMANTLE THE FIEFDOMS THAT PERPETUATE WASTE…JUST AS VOTERS APPROVED?

ISN’T IT TIME TO LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS AND DISMANTLE THE FIEFDOMS THAT PERPETUATE WASTE…JUST AS VOTERS APPROVED?

On December 17th, School Committee Chairman James Lombardi posted the following statement on Facebook about the issue of the School Department administrative offices moving back into the renovated Kendall-Dean building according to a plan approved in 2014 by the Town Council, School Committee and later by the voters in a bond referendum vote.

My commentary or questions appear interlaced below in ALL CAPS.

Cutting to the chase, here’s what I believe: It’s about fiefdom protection. Although everyone was officially on board with the admin space consolidation, there was always an unspoken element of resistance among some school officials who I believe feared that it would subject them to greater oversight and transparency.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could use the savings to enrich educational offerings?

School Committee Chairman Lombardi’s December 17, 2019 post:

There has been some recent discussion about the school department administrative staff moving to Kendall Dean. The School Committee has not taken the issue up but I wanted to give you my position.

IF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE HASN’T TAKEN UP THE ISSUE, WHY DID THE TOWN ADMINISTRATOR ANNOUNCE ON OCTOBER 17, 2019 THAT THE TWO FORMER CLASSROOMS, CONVERTED INTO OFFICE SPACE FOR THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT, WOULD BE REMAINING VACANT? WAS THE INFORMATION CONVEYED TO THE ADMINISTRATOR PRIVATELY BY SOMEONE SPEAKING AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT?

The movement of school administration to Kendall Dean is something I initially supported but with the renovation of the Andrews School, things changed. The Andrews School, which is located on the school campus, satisfies our need for administrative offices.

THE ANDREWS SCHOOL WAS RENOVATED IN THE SUMMER OF 2014 – BEFORE THE KENDALL DEAN BOND RENOVATION WAS ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER OF 2014.

Along with the belief of the Superintendent that he is a more effective manager of the schools while on-site, changed my mind. I believe the best and most efficient situation is for the administrative offices to be in or near the schools.

WHEN SPACE NEEDS WERE THOROUGHLY VETTED IN 2013, THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND SUPERINTENDENT AGREED IT WOULD BE BEST FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION OFFICES TO BE LOCATED WITH MUNICIPAL OFFICES IN A RENOVATED KENDALL-DEAN. THE SUPERINTENDENT, SCHOOL FACILITIES DIRECTOR AND A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE WERE PART OF THE COMMITTEE THAT DEVELOPED THE PLAN. IT’S WHAT WENT BEFORE VOTERS IN THE BOND REFERENDUM AND THAT VOTE SHOULD BE HONORED.

My reading of the bond language states “Authorizes the Town of North Smithfield to finance the repair and rehabilitation of the Kendall-Dean Building, Memorial Town Hall Building, and the Municipal Annex to achieve efficiencies and the consolidation of municipal and school administration functions in accordance with a plan adopted by the Town Council". This does not require offices to move and to be honest by moving makes us less efficient.

THE “PLAN” REFERRED TO IN THE BOND LANGUAGE IS ACTUALLY A BLUEPRINT OF THE BUILDING SHOWING ALL SCHOOL DEPARTMENT OFFICES AND ALL TOWN OFFICES LOCATED IN KENDALL DEAN. THAT “PLAN” WAS ADOPTED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THEY APPROVED THE LANGUAGE FOR THE BOND QUESTION. IT WAS DONE JUST TO ENSURE EXPECTATIONS WERE UNDERSTOOD BY ALL.

The location of school administrative offices does not prevent the consolidation of functions between any of the Town and School Department.

WE HAVE HAD TWO FINANCE DEPARTMENTS, TWO FINANCE DIRECTORS,TWO PAYROLL CLERKS, TWO ACCOUNTS PAYABLE DEPARTMENTS, TWO OF VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING IN TWO SEPARATE BUSINESS OFFICES FOR DECADES AND HAVE NEVER ATTEMPTED TO CONSOLIDATE THOSE SERVICES.

Efficiencies continue to be created without removing a segment of the school department staff from the school department setting. Separating school department staff creates inefficiencies, which is counter-productive to the purpose of the plan.

EFFICIENCIES ARE CREATED WHEN UTILIZATION OF OFFICE SPACE IS MAXIMIZED. HEATING AND MAINTAINING ONE 17,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE THAN MAINTAINING OFFICE SPACE IN TWO FACILITIES.

The language also specified that there would be repairs and rehab to the Town Hall and Municipal Annex, which is now not part of the plan. The original plan has undergone refinement and many revisions due to funding restrictions, professional studies, and further consideration/investigation. With reduced space rehabilitated, the town can better utilize the space.

USING A 17,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING TO HOUSE ONLY TOWN OFFICES IS NOT A BETTER UTILIZATION OF SPACE.

Communications between the town and school have greatly improved.

THE TOWN WASTED MONEY BUILDING OFFICE SPACE IN KENDALL DEAN FOR SCHOOL DEPARTMENT STAFF WHICH WILL REMAIN VACANT BECAUSE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS ARE CHOOSING NOT TO USE IT. THAT REPRESENTS A TOTAL LACK OF “PUBLIC” COMMUNICATION.

In addition, the Town Finance Department and the School Business Department communicate frequently and work very well together sharing information, fulfilling inquiries, etc. The location of the departments does not inhibit communications, sharing of information, or joint efforts on projects in common.

I’VE ALREADY ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF HAVING TWO SEPARATE BUSINESS OFFICES. AS FOR SHARING INFORMATION, TWICE IN THE LAST TEN YEARS THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT HAS FALSELY CRIED DEFICIT, OBTAINED ADDITIONAL FUNDS BY HOLDING SPORTS HOSTAGE, AND ENDED EACH YEAR WITH HEALTHY SURPLUSES.

The Superintendent provided the following examples of some of the inefficiencies that would be created by separating the School Department Business Office from the School Department:

• The original KD portion of the plan had the School Department occupying the entire second floor. It included offices for the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, as well as School Department Business Offices, Pupil Personnel Department, and the Technology Department Offices. The current plan considers moving the School Department Business Offices only. The Superintendent’s Office, as well as the Business Office, are the hub of the School Department. It is not logical to separate the Business Office from the Superintendent and the School Department. It is not the most practical situation for the Superintendent and the Business Office to work in separate buildings, but the Superintendent and Business Manager work hard to keep the communications flowing. It would be much more difficult if the Business Office was located across Town from the Superintendent and not on the same campus, within a quick two-minute walk, separated from the School Department.

AGAIN, THIS WAS THOROUGHLY VETTED IN 2013. MR. LOMBARDI NEVER PROTESTED ANY OF THE CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL PLAN. THEY WERE REPORTED IN NEWS ARTICLES AND HE WAS EVEN IN ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS WHERE SOME CHANGES WERE DISCUSSED YET HE NEVER VOICED HIS OBJECTIONS.

• Business Manager and/or Financial Assistant meet with Superintendent frequently, formally and informally for planned meetings, on-going projects, budget development, budget-related issues, and day-to-day operations. It would be very inefficient for individuals to travel back and forth between KD and the NSMS on a frequent basis. • Business Manager and/or Financial Assistant attend weekly/bi-weekly Admin Team Meetings at the High School and Middle School.

MANY COMPANIES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE MOVING TOWARD VIDEO CONFERENCING. HAVING WORKED IN A SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES IT SEEMS ODD TO ME THAT BOTH THE BUSINESS MANAGER AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANT ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND WEEKLY AND BI-WEEKLY ADMIN TEAM MEETINGS AT NSHS AND NSMS.

The Central Office Administrative Assistant works from the Business Office. The position services the Business Office, the Assistant Superintendent, and the Technology Director. The position assists with overflow and back-up for the Superintendent’s Confidential Executive Assistant. It would be inefficient for the involved individuals to travel back and forth to KD to meet, rather than a short walk over to the next building. • Parents come to the Business Office to meet with the Business Office Staff. The Admin Assistant position is responsible for processing school enrollments, free and reduced food service applications, NS Elementary Pre-School tuition payments, and serves as the back-up for school registrations. It is convenient for the Parents for the Business Department to be located on the main campus of the School Department.

WHILE IT WOULD BE CONVENIENT FOR PARENTS LIVING IN PRIMROSE, IT WOULD NOT BE AS CONVENIENT FOR PARENTS LIVING IN SLATERSVILLE. IT’S AN 8 MINUTE DRIVE FROM ONE SIDE OF TOWN TO THE OTHER; IS THAT REALLY SUCH A BIG INCONVENIENCE?

• The Business Department’s phones, computers, fax, copiers, printers, wired and wireless connections are tightly integrated into the school department’s communications and data networks, servers, file, and print shares, directory user management, directly policies and automation, and all administrative applications and software licensing. Relocating the business office to KD breaks this integration and support.

I REMIND RESIDENTS THAT THE SCHOOL BUSINESS DEPARTMENT WAS LOCATED IN KENDALL DEAN RIGHT UP UNTIL RENOVATION CONSTRUCTION STARTED. IN ADDITION TO THE COSTS OF RENOVATING THE SPACE THE TOWN JUST SPENT BIG BUCKS INSTALLING ALL NEW DROP LINES AND WIRING IN KENDALL DEAN FOR USE BY THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT STAFF.

• The Business Department would need to remain linked to the School Department's telephone system. The Admin Asst at the Business Office answers the main telephone line for the District. The Accounting Specialist (A/P) serves as back-up to the Admin Asst. The Admin Asst receives, sorts, and processes mail for the District. Mail is then delivered to the nearby Schools. • The Business Department services approx. 250+ employees at the School Department location; HR, leaves of absence, attendance issues, employee benefits, payroll, substitute management, receives/processes School Department applications for employment, reimbursements, etc. There is a daily flow of School Department employees visiting the Business Office to manage individual payroll/benefit-related issues, enrollments, changes, etc. The School Department Staff frequently stop in during their break time, lunchtime, and/or free periods throughout the workday to conduct business. • Initial HR-related meetings for leaves of absence, attendance, staff movement, and/or other employee-related issues usually necessitate meetings with the Superintendent’s Office and the Business Manager and/or the Financial Assistant. Most often follow-up meetings are necessary with employee(s) involved. • Oftentimes, Business Office/School Office Staff travel back and forth between the Business Office, the schools, and the Superintendent’s office to deliver time-sensitive documents and/or to get necessary signatures on documents. • The Facilities Manager is re-organizing the duties of the Courier to minimize traveling time. The courier delivers mail and packages from the schools to and from the Business Office two times per day. In addition, the position has assigned, daily custodial duties. The move would require additional travel time thereby reducing availability to fulfill custodial duties.

ADDRESSING THE LAST 5 BULLETS: ONCE AGAIN I POINT OUT THAT THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT’S CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF WAS LOCATED IN KENDALL DEAN FOR QUITE SOME TIME RIGHT UP UNTIL THE RENOVATION WORK WAS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN 2016. WITH EMAIL, SCANNING AND FAXING NOW IN FULL USE, IT’S HARD TO ENVISION SO MANY EMPLOYEES AND PARENTS NEEDING TO TREK OVER TO KENDALL DEAN. I WORKED IN A SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR OVER THREE DECADES AND CAN’T RECALL NEEDING TO VISIT THE CENTRAL OFFICES MORE THAN ONCE OR TWICE OVER THAT SPAN OF TIME. IN THOSE DAYS WE USED INTER-OFFICE MAIL.

Therefore, it is my opinion that the most efficient use of town resources is for the School Department to utilize the space they have and allow the Town the space they need.

THERE’S WAY MORE SPACE IN THE KENDALL DEAN BUILDING THAN THE TOWN CAN USE!

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