Oregon school board starts to fill some vacant spots

7/30/2008

Oregon school board members this week began to fill several vacant positions across the district, while continuing efforts to come up with $100,000 in administrative cuts.

Loren Dirr, the assistant principal at Clay High School, has been hired as the school's principal. His annual salary will be $109, 096.

Jim Jurski, the high school's athletic director, was hired to replace Mr. Dirr as assistant principal, at a salary of $85,774.

Jeff Thompson, who has been assistant principal of Eisenhower and Fassett middle schools, will take on the duties of principal of Eisenhower Middle School. His salary will be $98,094.

Dawn Henry, student services director for the district, will serve as principal of Coy Elementary, for $95,946.

The board also during its meeting Monday voted to accept the resignation of Lonny Rivera, principal of Coy Elementary. Mr. Rivera, who had been a finalist for Oregon's superintendent position, was recently hired as chief of staff for Toledo Public Schools.

Jeff Ziviski, a board member, said some newly vacated positions may not be filled in order to help the district make $100,000 in administrative cuts it had ordered previous superintendent John C. Hall to make.

"We've created a few vacancies right now," Mr. Ziviski said.

"I'm hoping to finish a few of the other personnel openings for the school year, and I plan on analyzing the administrative cuts to make sure we've met that."

Mr. Ziviski said he hopes the board will end up with between $200,000 to $300,000 in cuts once it is finished with the personnel moves for the school year.