Fieldcrest hiring rumors put to rest

August 20, 2007

To set the record straight and get the facts I asked these questions from some of the Fieldcrest Board of Education members. First, the Vice-Principal position is not a full- time position but a part-time position filled in by a Fieldcrest teacher who gets extra pay for the service. This position was previously held by Jim DeMay when he was the football coach at Fieldcrest. The position was eliminated during the budget cuts instituted a few years ago. With the passing of the referendum and the improved financial conditions at Fieldcrest the position of Vice-Principal was re-established. The purpose of the Vice-Principal is to assist the Principal in matters of discipline and other administrative duties.

The Fieldcrest Board did hire a Principal for Fieldcrest South. Again, that position was eliminated during the budget cuts of a few years ago. The new Principal, Dorrene Sokn, was hired as a part-time Principal and part-time Special Education teacher starting in July.

A Spanish teacher was hired this past winter by the previous Board of Education. The position was given to Laine Vincent, wife of Fieldcrest Superintendent Randy Vincent. Mrs. Vincent has a masters degree with 20 years of experience and received a salary of $49,808 at El Paso in 2006. I don't how long the position was advertised but apparently Mrs. Vincent was the only applicant for the job. One school board member told me that it is hard to find a qualified foreign language teacher. Nevertheless, her appointment was made in February. If the Board had waited a few more months perhaps they could have hired a less expensive new graduate or someone with less experience? The hiring of the Fieldcrest South Principal wasn't done until May.

I hope this explanation from the Fieldcrest Board members defuses rumors and gives Fieldcrest taxpayers information they should know. The hirings were noted on the Fieldcrest web site but no salaries were given.

Speaking of public notice, why doesn't the Fieldcrest Board of Education hold its monthly meetings at the Fieldcrest High School where the administrative offices of Fieldcrest are located? Currently, the Board takes turns holding meetings at Minonk, Toluca, and Wenona. Most people don't know where the next board meeting is to be held. I also know that a board meeting had been canceled, and to my knowledge, there was no public notice. Meetings are now posted in the Post Office but that was just recently instituted. Why not post the meetings at the doors of City Hall in all communities so everyone knows where and when the meetings are to be held? Better yet, just hold the meetings in Minonk where they belong so people won't have to look up the notices of board meetings.

Finally, the Fieldcrest Board of Education is to be commended for rejecting a proposal to move the baseball games from Minonk to Wenona. The safety of our children and the education of our children take priority over sporting events. With the fragile relationship among the Fieldcrest communities, it was ludicrous to even consider moving the ball games from Minonk to Wenona in the first place.

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