Broadalbin-Perth eliminates administrative post to save money

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jason Subik

The Broadalbin-Perth Central School District has consolidated its district treasurer and assistant superintendent positions into one job — “school business administrator” — in an effort to save money.

The school board voted to consolidate the positions in August after Treasurer Jeanne Johnson, a 28-year district veteran, decided to take a state incentive to retire over the summer. Johnson is one of 15 district employees who took the incentive, which provided eligible employees state pension credit for an extra month of service for every year they had served.

Marco Zumbolo, who had been the district’s assistant superintendent, will now move to the business administrator position. Zumbolo in a news release Monday said the consolidation will save the district approximately $150,000 in salary and benefits over the next two years and nearly $400,000 over the next five years. District officials did not return phone calls Tuesday seeking salary information about the new business administrator position.

“I’ve heard from residents that they wanted us to make cuts at the top, and this was definitely a financially motivated decision,” Superintendent Steve Tomlinson said.

District officials stated in a news release that the plan to consolidate the jobs was agreed upon three years ago but not initiated until Johnson retired.

As business administrator, Zumbolo will take over Johnson’s responsibilities as district treasurer and continue doing many of the jobs he did as assistant superintendent, including overseeing the development of the school budget and managing the district’s tax rolls.

Some of the former tasks of the assistant superintendent, including management of the district’s transportation, buildings and grounds and food service departments, will go to Tomlinson.

School Board Vice President Edward Szumowski stated in a news release that many district residents have questioned the need for an assistant superintendent.

“It was an artifact from the days of the merger [between the Broadalbin and Perth school districts] and change can come slowly in organizations like schools,” he said. “Considering the money that can be saved in this streamlining effort and the sensible shifting of responsibilities to the superintendent and school business administrator, I think this is a win-win. I expect more changes like this to occur over time as the district seeks ways to save money without eliminating the ability to perform various functions.”