Another Calhoun County School Board member is upset about the recent decision to hire a human resources director for the district and has vowed to fight against the move.
As reported last week, the board voted 3-1 to approve the new position with a salary range of $71,925 - $75,982.
School Board district 2 member Kelly King expressed her opposition, specifically due to the district being in the midst of a hiring freeze and lack of information for the upcoming budget year. District 5 board member Danny Hassig was out of town, but planned to be at the meeting. He said an unexpected delay prevented him from making it back and he was shocked at what occurred in his absence.
“This is gross abuse of government, taxpayer funds and power,” Hassig told The County Record in an interview Thursday. “Why do we need an HR person right now when we have a hiring freeze? Why are we creating positions when we have a hiring freeze?”
Hassig was also confused as to why an HR director would also be made district athletic director. Last week, Superintendent Ralph Yoder explained the reason for that decision. “The Calhoun County School District needs a single point of contact with the Florida High School Athletic Association and with the Florida Department of Education for sport-related issues,” Yoder noted. “The HR Director will be that single point of contact.”
Hassig disagreed. “We are a small, rural county. Right now we have two athletic directors - one at Altha and one at Blountstown High. As long as Alexander Graham Bell continues to function, I’m sure they can get on the phone and handle whatever we need.”
Yoder has said the recent vote by local educators to join a teachers union factored into the decision to create the HR director position.
“We’ve been in the union what...30 days? We don’t know what we don’t know,” Hassig remarked. “You wouldn’t do this with your own business.”
Following parliamentary procedure, Hassig has placed the item back on the agenda for the July 21 School Board meeting to rescind or amend.
In the meantime, interviews for the position concluded last week and sources indicate someone in the school system has been hired.
