April 9, 2010
Schools office re-structuring announced, position eliminated
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
A re-structuring plan has been announced for the Office of Schools in the Diocese of Evansville. The new structure will include a diocesan school superintendent, two assistant superintendents and an administrative assistant.
The plan includes elimination of the current position of the Coordinator of Safety and Security held by Steve Bagbey. The safety and security functions will be assigned as part of the responsibilities of an assistant superintendent.
Bagbey, a retired police officer with FBI training, has as-sisted schools and parishes in setting up safety policy and procedures, in providing security at proms and other events, and by investigating incidents involving safety at schools and other facilities. He has served the schools office since 1999.
Donna Halverson is currently the Director of Schools. Following the retirement of Phyllis Bussing in 2008, Halverson was named acting director, a position she expected to hold for the 2008-2009 school year.
In 2009, diocesan cost-cutting measures were announced, including a delay in the hiring of a permanent director. Halverson was named Director of Schools for the 2009-2010 school year.
Now, with the new structure to be implemented, Halverson said she looks forward “to assuming one of the assistant superintendent positions and providing transition to the new staff for the next two years.” Halverson provided details of the structure and her own plans in letters to priests, pastoral life coordinators and principals.
“The reality is we have been considering re-structuring for the past year,” Halverson wrote. “After researching the staffing of various diocesan school offices throughout the United States we have decided on a staffing structure that will not only serve you well, but also to be a good steward of the diocesan resources.”
Halverson said the two assistant superintendents will be required to have backgrounds in education and building level supervision. “One of these assistant superintendents’ positions will have the safety and security concerns that Steve coordinated (bus driver drug testing and inspections, incident and accident filing, fire safety etc.) in addition to other responsibilities,” she said.
Halverson said the search is now in process to name a new Superintendent no later than May 1. She plans to hire the second assistant superintendent this month.
Rhonda Schroeder Weissmann has served as Halverson’s administrative assistant since April 2009.
The announcement of the change in structure of the schools office comes as the work of a strategic planning group nears completion of its work. The strategic plan is expected to include various initiatives toward “re-energizing” the parishes in the diocese.
“We have many challenges facing us as we embark on this strategic plan which looks at the future of Catholic school education in our diocese,” Halverson said. “But as with any challenge, there are endless opportunities to think new and soar with our strengths!”