Nanaimo school district’s learning services department will be realigned due in part to the November 2016 Supreme Court of Canada ruling related to class size and composition.
In a March 16 news release, the district announced a restructuring plan that will see some administrative staff responsibilities and titles change.
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Tim Davie, assistant school superintendent, will become deputy superintendent; Robyn Gray, director of instruction, will be assistant superintendent focusing on secondary and Laura Tait, director of instruction, will become assistant superintendent focusing on elementary. Bob Esliger will continue as assistant superintendent of diversity, equity and student services, while a director of instruction position will be vacant with how it is filled to be determined. Another director of instruction position will not be replaced.
The district had a similar structure when then-deputy superintendent John Blain assumed his current role of superintendent in 2015, according to Dale Burgos, school district spokesman. At that time, it was decided to remove the deputy superintendent position as a cost-saving measure, he said.
Blain is set to retire, with Scott Sawywell, current assistant superintendent, replacing him effective Aug. 1.
Burgos said a major reason for the change was the Supreme Court decision, and increasing enrolment is a factor as well.
“A big part of the positions right now in the senior leadership team is looking at [human resources], teachers looking into the classroom. That’s really the big change that happened in the last year,” said Burgos. “So when you look at the deputy superintendent role, there’s an HR piece to it, there’s a learning piece, so there’s a lot of different dynamics in there that overlook everything … HR and education and then of course, with the assistant superintendents, their focus is learning.”
The changes coming about because of the restructuring will take effect April 1.
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