Nov. 18, 2008 — The Susanville School District has lost one of its most important administrators. Gary McIntire, superintendent of the Susanville School District, announced the resignation of Linnea Vanderville, the district’s veteran assistant superintendent of business services, at a special board of trustees meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

McIntire told the board Vanderville would work her last day on Friday, Dec. 5 but would remain on the payroll through Dec. 31 to collect vacation days.

The board discussed employment of a new chief business official in closed session, but took no reportable action.

When it returned to open session, the board approved three items relating to the business official job. The board changed the job title from assistant superintendent business services to chief business official, approved a job description for the chief business official and passed a resolution making the position part of the classified staff.

It also discussed the restructuring of job duties at the district office to reflect the changes in job responsibilities.

The superintendent told the board Vanderville, “performed all of the business services for the district, including attendance reports, revenue limit calculations, budget development and interim reports, financial closing reports, bill payments, consolidate applications, class size reduction applications and countless other duties.”

McIntire said Vanderville worked for the SSD for 14 years and was initially hired as an interim business manager. She was later designated as permanent business manager and later moved up to assume the assistant superintendent’s role.

Due to budgetary restrictions, McIntire said the district would be better served to redefine the job and distribute other duties among current employees rather than hiring another assistant superintendent. He said given the intense demand statewide for individuals with the education and experience to qualify for the assistant superintendent position, he doubted the district could a qualified applicant. He also said the district probably couldn’t afford to pay a competitive salary even if it were to find someone who met the qualifications.

The administration hopes to hire a chief business officer and delegate other duties to other current employees, McIntire said, essentially restructuring the responsibilities of the district office’s staff.

“We need to take a course and deal with as many knowns as we can,” McIntire told the trustees, and then write new job descriptions designed to fit the district’s needs.

McIntire also stressed the need for cross training among the district’s current employees. He said many of the district’s current job descriptions would need to be revised to reflect the changes in employee’s responsibilities.

New job description
According to the new job description approved by the board, the chief business official would be responsible for the financial management of the district including budget, financial records control and audit of all district accounts.

The chief business official also would assist the superintendent in human resources and personnel management, develop plans for financing of the district’s programs and staff and be responsible for ensuring financial compliance for a variety of programs.

The qualifications for the new position include:

•Chief business official certification preferred.

•Five years experience in school business administration or related field.

•Knowledge of school finance and accounting generally accepted accounting principles and procedures and knowledge of standardized account code structure.

•Experience working with the California Education Code relative to school accounting, finance and administration.

•Knowledge of California school accounting manual and state audit guidelines.

•Demonstrated experience in the use of accounting software and technology.

•Experience in labor relations and human resource management.

Ken Unterreiner, president of the Susanville Teachers Association, asked why the district was willing to hire someone for this position who had not earned a college degree.

“We’re pro-education,” Unterreiner said.

McIntire said he expected someone to ask that question, but he said hiring a person with a degree was “far outside what we can pay. What we need is certification as a chief business official.”