By a unanimous 6-0 vote on both counts, John Hart has been moved up from interim superintendent of Danville District 118, named by the school board as the new superintendent. Markesha Parker, who had been serving as District 118 Assistant Director of Human Resources, is now the Associate Superintendent.
Parker stated after Tuesday (June 17th) night’s District 118 Board meeting that she didn’t necessarily plan for it to work out like this, but she’s glad it did.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: I’m a Danville girl. Danville’s home. I did leave to go to a neighboring district for a few years. But the opportunity presented itself for me to come back as the assistant director of HR, and here I am; and I’m happy to serve in this new role as the associate superintendent.
Hart, who served as assistant superintendent under previous superintendent Dr. Alicia Geddis, said he did not regret taking the job, but did acknowledge some tough roads ahead. He says with the state budget now signed, it will be more evident that much federal money meant to pass through to schools isn’t there like it used to be. He sees future trouble, for example, in areas such as pre-K special education and free lunches. And although it’s been determined through the state board of education that the 18 million dollar gap in the about to expire annual budget does not have to be amended; a major loss is still a major loss.
(1st Picture) Christopher Easton calls for tabling of the Treasurer’s Report. (2nd Picture) Markesha Parker after being named Associate Superintendent. (3rd Picture) John Hart after being named Superintendent.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: Eighteen million out of reserves; some of it was predictable. It was projects that the past board looked at, and they knew it would be coming out of district funds. But I do think when you look at it, 18 million dollars is a big hit.
Board member Christopher Easton says the way he sees it, the current budget passed by the previous board did not have a real three year plan “with adjustments” like it should have.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: For each year, the numbers never changed. They were just numbers. They didn’t go up or down. They were just copied of what the budget was.
It was Easton who asked that the Treasurer’s Report on the agenda be tabled, because he’s still looking to get more information on problems he found for during the month of May.
On the positive side, board member Toni Towne says the obvious respect between Hart and Parker is a huge step forward.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: There is some peace. We know that we’re all working together, and I don’t know that they felt that before.
Board President Darlene Halloran says one more person has to be interviewed before the decision is made on who will replace the resigned Pastor Thomas Miller on the District 118 Board.
