St. Charles District To Add Dean of Students Position

Discipline problems and increased student enrollment in district middle schools prompted Superintendent Randy Charles to recommend adding a new administrative position.

The board of education on Thursday approved creating a new dean of students job to assist with discipline at and .

“We’re seeing more serious discipline problems with kids at a younger and younger age,” said Director of Human Resources Jeff Marion.

The person would be in charge of student supervision and behavior at the schools, freeing up time for the assistant principal and principal to spend more time with teachers and working on curriculum. The dean of students would be paid a teacher’s salary, and would get an additional stipend for meetings and after school work.

The job will initially be open just to internal candidates, said Charles. Candidates would have to have a master’s degree, correct certification and at least two years of teaching experience to qualify.

"It gives some of our strong aspiring administrators a chance to get a foot in the door and get some experience," Marion said.

Currently there are about 750 students enrolled at Hardin and Jefferson and each one has one principal and one assistant principal. and each have one principal and two assistant principals and enrollment that was at 953 for St. Charles and 932 for St. Charles West, as of November 2010. 

High School enrollment is expected to continue to decline, although district elementary school enrollment is on the rise. 

According to a memo provided to the board, it doesn't make sense to shift one high school administrator to work at the middle schools because not all high school principals have experience working with younger students. 

Charles said the board could expect Marion to bring them a recommendation for someone for the job in the future.