The Lebanon R-3 School Board approved 5-2 the job description of its new deputy superintendent position in a Jan. 20 special session.
The school board had created the role, also with a 5-2 split, in its regular meeting on Jan. 13.
The deputy superintendent job was part of the district’s long-range planning, as superintendent David Schmitz previously told the board he would not request a contract extension past 2028.
The proposed job description was ready for the board to review at the meeting, and readers can find the full description on the agenda on the district’s BoardDocs website.
The deputy superintendent would report to the superintendent, supervise programs such as Career Education and Athletics/Activities as well as building principals and directors, and would have a 12-month contract.
The district’s meeting highlights noted that in accordance with the district’s hiring procedures, the deputy superintendent position had been posted internally.
Some of the listed job functions included acting on behalf of the superintendent when they are absent and working with internal and external groups to implement components of programs, plan, and address organizational directives.
School board president Charlie Darnell noted the overlap of duties the position shared with an assistant superintendent role and said the role would help the selected deputy learn the duties of the superintendent.
School board treasurer Nicole Walters said she wanted the deputy superintendent position as an additional long-term voice in decision making and planning in the face of the district’s budget cutting.
The board discussed the distinction between the hiring process for the deputy superintendent and the hiring of a superintendent and discussed possibily utilizing the Missouri School Boards Association to find a candidate for the latter.
Board member Merri Hess saw the creation of the deputy superintendent position as a series of steps, with the creation of the job description being one such step.
MSBA Alternate Delegate Mary Russell was one of the no votes (board member Krissy Jackson was the other) and disagreed with the deputy superintendent process’s transparency thus far.
In closed session, the session highlights noted the board voted unanimously to extend Assistant Superintendent of Quality Learning and Experiences Holly Schrage’s contract for the 2027-2028 school year.
For more stories, see Wednesday's LCR.
