DSS Newsletter
Week of March 18, 2019
From the Desk of Dr. Michael Yocum...
Executive Director Search Update
We have 90 applicants for the position of District and School Services Executive Director. Fifteen of the candidates were asked to submit a video interview that is being reviewed by Jarrad Grandy, Karen Olex and me. From that review I expect four to five candidates to move forward. The following is the process once those candidates are identified. I want you to know that what you indicated in the survey you did last summer is still important criteria driving this decision.
April 22 – Cabinet will review the candidates selected from the paper review and the video interviews.
April 29 – The following is the schedule for the morning of April 29. It is based on an assumption three candidates move forward but that could change.
Candidate #1:
1. 8:00 am – 8:45 am, Room 205A with Interview Team
2. 8:45 am – 9:00 am, meet with Stephanie Barlow
3. 9:05 am – 9:25 am, meet with DSS Supervisors
4. 9:15 am – 9:55 am, meet with DSS staff for a brief presentation and a question and answer session. Written feedback will be collected from staff members
Candidate #2:
1. 9:15 am – 10:00 am, Room 205A with Interview Team
2. 10:00 am – 10:15 am, meet with Stephanie Barlow
3. 10:20 am – 10:40 am, meet with DSS Supervisors
4. 10:30 am – 11:10 am, meet with DSS staff members
Candidate #3:
1. 10:30 am – 11:15 am, Room 205 with Interview Team
2. 11:15 am – 11:30 am, meet with Stephanie Barlow
3. 11:35 am – 11:55 am, meet with DSS Supervisors
4. 11:45 am – 12:25 pm, meet with DSS staff
The interview team is made up of three Executive Directors, two supervisors, one consultant, one Teaching and Learning Council member and one superintendent.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mike
From the desk of Steven Snead...
Information Center
As our districts and schools continue to express their high priority needs, Oakland Schools has an obligation to allocate internal organizational resources to align with those needs. With this in mind, after much discussion between Wanda, Mike, and myself over the past few months, we have reached the difficult decision to eliminate the full-time Information Center Consultant position. On March 26th, the board will be presented with a personnel action item to eliminate this position effective July 1, 2019.
There are, however, certain services that the Information Center provides that will be advantageous to continue, in light of a full-time Information Center consultant. When a transition plan for the Information Center is complete, it will be shared with the department.
This decision is not connected to or driven by the compensation study. Furthermore, in no way is this decision reflective of the quality of Judy’s service to the organization. Judy’s service has always been excellent, thorough, and precise. This decision is driven by our understanding of the needs of districts and schools, and our duty to align resources to meet those needs.
Service Planning Document 2019-2020
Please use this link to access the spreadsheet for our DSS Service Planning Document 2019-2020.
Legislative Update
Click here for the weekly legislative update sent on behalf of Lisa Hansknecht and David Randels.
The Mask You Live In
You’re invited to watch the first half of The Mask You Live In. This film follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity.
Monday, March 25, 2019
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Conference room B
Pressured by the media, their peer group, and even the adults in their lives, our protagonists confront [the social] messages that encourage them to disconnect from their emotions, devalue authentic friendships, objectify and degrade women, and resolve conflicts through violence. The gender stereotypes they experience intersect with race, class, and circumstance, creating a maze of identity issues which boys and young men must navigate to become “real” men.”
Description is sourced from the Film Synopsis available here: http://therepresentationproject.org/film/the-mask-you-live-in-film/about-the-film/