Northern Ozaukee School Board holds off hiring a replacement; existing staff to handle workload

The unexpected resignation of Kurt Bergland as principal of Wisconsin Virtual Learning, the Northern Ozaukee School District’s virtual school, has resulted in some year-end personnel shifts.

Bergland’s resignation is effective July 1 after leading the on-line charter school for three years.

He will become principal of Milwaukee Community Cyber High School, a virtual school to be operated by the non-profit group Seeds of Health.

Rather than hiring a replacement, Bergland’s duties will be divided between two current employees.

Ozaukee High School Principal Kevin Parker will become principal of the virtual high school in addition to his existing responsibilities.

Melissa Horn, associate principal of the virtual elementary school, will now oversee the virtual middle-school program.

Horn is also heading the virtual school’s Student Learning Advocate Team, a new approach to improve communication between families and the WVL staff.

In a memo on Parker’s added duties, Supt. Bill Harbron said the shuffle actually reinforces an ongoing goal of the district.

“It s designed to bring further alignment and integration on on-line and brick-and-mortar learning,” Harbron said.

He was equally optimistic about the impact of passing new duties on to Horn.

“During her first year with NOSD, Melissa has demonstrated outstanding leadership as WVL associate principal. Melissa brings a skill set and leadership competencies that will serve WVL well,” Harbron said.

No salary adjustments were made for the two principals. Officials said the district will save $132,000 in salary and benefits by not replacing Bergland.

The board also approved hiring Diane Scheftgen for the newly created position of purchasing and reclamation coordinator.
Scheftgen was previously laid-off as a secretary for WVL.

She will oversee the purchasing of services and materials by both the virtual and brick-and-mortar schools, including responsibilities previously handled by Bergland.

Scheftgen will have an annual salary of $36,250 without health insurance. The pay rate was determined after checking salary ranges for inventory coordinators in the Milwaukee market prepared by PayScale.

The same service was used to determine that Jason Becker should be paid $51,950 a year in his reclassified position as supervisor of administrative and business support services. The district is proposing to boost Becker’s salary to $56,950 starting April 1, 2011.

Although his employment is not covered by a labor agreement, the letter of agreement presented to Becker says the district intends to employ him for at least the next two years.

Business Manager Walter Clarke has an even longer term in sight.

“Jason is well on his way to becoming an integral part of our administrative staff. Hopefully, he will be able to replace me when I step down in a few years,” Clarke said.

Board member Kendall Thistle voted against both pay rates.

Further reflecting the personnel carousel the district is  experiencing, Sandy Henke has been moved from WVL secretary to the

Ozaukee Middle School office and Kelly Bartow has been reassigned from the Ozaukee Elementary School office to the high school.

Both secretarial jobs have been changed to 11-month positions.

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