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District's human resource director, a retiree, staying for her experience
7/2/2009 11:55 PM   2 comment(s) on this story E-mail this story to a friend

Faced with the kinds of funding cuts that the Aiken County School District has faced in the past year, no private business would move out the person in charge of human resources, said Superintendent Dr. Beth Everitt.

Everitt said it was essential to keep personnel director Joyce Stanley, a working retiree, in the position. Other retirees still working as teachers and administrators were told in early spring that their contracts might not be renewed because of severe budget cuts.

Some of those retirees have found jobs in other counties in South Carolina and Georgia. To date, no retirees have gotten new contracts in Aiken. However, district officials said Tuesday that retirees would be invited to apply for some critical needs positions this summer once they are advertised.

In recent months, Stanley's work status has led to complaints from some teachers and parents at a time when veteran teachers weren't returning. But Stanley is the only certified person in her department, said Everitt, and, with her understanding of human resources procedures, needs to remain in that position. The superintendent said Stanley has the knowledge of personnel within the district that's critical at this time of cutbacks and faculty shifts.

"There's no one else with the degree or experience in human resources at Brookhaven," said Everitt. "If we so choose, we will advertise the position, but we'll need someone with that experience, along with experience in public education."

In interviews this week, School Board members Ray Fleming and Levi Green said they supported Everitt in retaining Stanley.

"With all the personnel decisions we were dealing with, it's extremely important to have an experienced person in human resources," said Fleming. "All the personnel matters had to be done extremely accurately. We owed that to our people, and Joyce has done an outstanding job."

A Savannah River Site retiree, Green said he recognizes that the human resources director plays a critical role.

"You don't move that person, especially when there's a reduction in force," Green said. "We'll look at this again down the road to see if there will be some changes. Initially for this time, it's the right thing to keep (Stanley) in place."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.


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  2 comment(s) on this story

Expertise??? :  7/6/2009

Joyce, go home. We have many talented and personnel in Aiken Ciunty that can do your job. She had no experience before she got the job, hire someone else and they can lesrn the job just as she did. It's not what you kbow but who you know in Aiken County. CChangd her salary to that a begining teacher and see how long she stays.

:  7/3/2009

She should be paid at the level of a beginning teacher. Principals do not hold everything close to their vest so that no one else is capable of doing the job. Her superior Dr. Davidson should get in their and work with Mrs. Stanley to learn the job. Mrs. Stanley has many capable workers under her. It is true that they are not certified.Neither was Jeannie Murphy who she replaced. The district can save money by not having her replaced with a certified person. It is true that Mrs. Stanley is very busy now and will be through October when workers sign up for benefits. The district needs to advertise and get someone on board so she can exit by December. With her husband working for a salary of nearly $100,000.00 a year and with her salary of nearly $90,000.00 a year, it definitely appears that there is preferential treatment. Her son-in- law is also principal of South Aiken and I have heard rumors that her daughter is going to be named as a district math coordinator. Being close friends with the deputy superintendent and a neighbor of Dr. Everett definitely help. Mrs. Stanley has done an excellent job,but so had the principals and teachers who were replaced. She had no experience in the area of human resources when she was hired. Here again, she and her husband were close friends of Dr. Gallman and Jeannie Murphy. There are many bright capable people that can learn the job if given a chance. They will need to reach out to Joyce, and their neighboring districts for help. The state has many informative meetings to help them learn the job. Two names that come to mind are Jason Fulmer and Tamika Smalls. Both were excellent teachers, teachers of the year and have worked with the state recruitment and retention of teachers. Advertise and name someone to begin working with Mrs. Stanley.

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