SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : School District Saves by Not Filling Jobs

In a move that will save about $200,000 in salary expenses, the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees this week approved a sweeping administrative restructuring plan at the district office.

As part of the plan, Supt. James A. Fleming will reduce his administrative cabinet from 10 positions to eight.

The district employs about 1,700 people and serves about 30,000 students. Before the restructuring, administrative positions represented 3% of the total district work force, officials said.

Much of the savings will come by eliminating the positions left vacant by the retirement of Assistant Supt. William Dawson, and by the resignation of Associate Supt. William D. Eller to become superintendent for Cypress School District.

“In view of the fiscal difficulties of the state and our school district, as an alternative to filling two high-level administrative positions, we are instead asking people to do more,” Fleming said.

The duties of Dawson will be added to those of Dan Crawford, executive director of facilities construction and support operations, and of Dave Doomey, executive director of facilities planning and funding. Eller’s former responsibilities will be added to those of three instruction administrators: Tom Anthony, Barbara Smith and Rich Thome.

Job titles and duties will also be shifting for several other administrators.

Among those changes: Terri Lunine, formerly assistant superintendent for human resources, was named associate superintendent for administrative services, and will become the second highest-ranking administrator in the district; and Carleen Wing Chandler, formerly budget and finance director, will become the assistant superintendent for business and fiscal services.

While the changes do mean modest salary increases for some administrators, overall the changes will save the district about $200,000, officials said.

All administrative changes approved by the board are effective immediately.

The board recently adopted a $127-million budget for the 1993-94 fiscal year that spared academic programs from additional cuts. To help cover a shortfall of about $4.6 million, the district drew from its $9.1-million reserve fund instead of making cuts in academic programs, as it has done in previous years.