The new hires are part of a central office restructuring which was approved by the BOE on February 23. Superintendent Karen Baldwin stated at the time that certain positions were being combined and re-posted, which she reported could realize between $32,000 and $45,000 in savings. With the new hires, Ms. Clancy will be replacing Gary Miller, who has been serving as the BOE's interim director of operations.

Following the meeting, Ms. Baldwin stated, "this revised organizational system results in a cost savings to the Board of Education. Because we have yet to hire the new supervisor of special education, the savings aren't yet known, but the re-design alone achieves salary savings."

Ms. Baldwin also noted the director of special services will be "replaced with a lower cost supervisor of special education, grades six to twelve, and the director functions are to be absorbed in the assistant superintendent assignment."

The business manager, which was also approved on February 23, is responsible for the operation of all non-instructional services of the school district, including finance, employee benefit programs, purchasing, supervision and review. The business manager will be in regular attendance at BOE meetings to provide information and advice directly to BOE members.

The assistant superintendent will undertake the position previously held by Todd LoFrese in 2008 and will also be assuming the position of Thad Hasbrouck, director of curriculum and professional services, who is planning to retire on June 30.

The new position of assistant superintendent of curriculum and special services is expected to focus on research, planning, designing curriculum, implementing programs to enhance teaching and learning, and will be evaluating programs to determine their effectiveness.

Prior to their appointments, Ms. Baldwin introduced Ms. Clancy and Dr. Collin.

"Ms. Clancy has worked for the Wethersfield Public Schools for the past 16 years, serving as the business manager since 2006," said Ms. Baldwin. "She has extensive knowledge of business operations and will be a tremendous asset to the organization."

Ms. Baldwin and Ms. Clancy previously worked together in Wethersfield, which the superintendent announced during the meeting.

In speaking of Dr. James Collin, Ms. Baldwin said, "Dr. Jim Collin has been a principal at the middle school level for six years, most recently since 2005 at Silas Deane Middle School in Wethersfield. Dr. Collin has successfully implemented a professional learning community model of practice, and closed the achievement gap between students of special needs and their non-disabled peers."

Following the unanimous votes on the two appointments, BOE members welcomed the new administrative personnel and Ms. Clancy and Dr. Collin expressed their excitement to begin their work with the Watertown Public School System.