EVSC to Follow Business Model with new Positions

Dr. Vince Bertram has been on the job for just one month, and already the new EVSC superintendent wants to make organizational changes to the way the school corporation operates its administration. The changes are aimed at focusing on accountability and fiscal transparency. The EVSC school board backed all of Dr. Bertrams recommendations for change Monday, the first of which calls for a local solution to fix failing schools. Four EVSC schools are currently failing to meet federal standards laid out by the Title I Education Bill. That legislation provides federal funds to improve learning in schools with low economic or academic issues. Failing to meet those standards could prompt state intervention or even take over of the schools. With two more local schools soon to be added to the Title I list, Bertram wants to head off state intervention. Hes received approval from the state to use Title I money to assemble a local School Intervention Team, to be comprised of two EVSC officials and three from outside the corporation. That team would go into the Title I schools and look for solutions to bring up student performance. Bertram also wants to bring in a Chief Financial Officer to oversee the books and help provide fiscal transparency. That persons role would be, in part, to host public seminars to help the public understand how tax money is being spent by the corporation. The move has been cheered by the Vanderburgh County Tax Payers Association, a local watch dog group. Bertram also wants to add a Chief Academic Officer to oversee curriculum and provide support to principals, and promote Assistant Superintendent Bob Yeager to the role of Chief Executive Officer. Bertram cautioned that the business model doesnt always provide the best environment for education, but said these changes will help stream line the corporation, and point out where the shortfalls might be.