MCS replaces finance officer hours after resignation
(Editors note: The original version of this story incorrectly compared Deborah Williams' base salary, $112,737, to Bruce Perry's total salary. Williams' total salary, including retirement benefits, was $113,864, the same as Bruce Perry's total salary.)
MUNCIE, Ind. — In a single day Muncie Community Schools had its Chief Financial Officer resign, and hired a new one.
Deborah Williams confirmed that she turned in her resignation Tuesday morning after a year and a half with MCS for "personal reasons." The board approved the resignation during that evening's board meeting. She was not present.
In the same vote, Bruce Perry was hired as CFO for $113,864 per year, the same salary Williams was making, including retirement benefits.
The board did not discuss any details of the change — there was no mention of Williams or detailed introduction of Perry— but the names were listed in the online personnel report.
Perry, who was at the meeting, told The Star Press afterward he is currently the director of finance for Baugo Community Schools in Elkhart, a position he's held for seven years. Baugo, which includes Jimtown High School, has an enrollment of 1,892 students in four buildings, according to state data.
When asked how many interviews he had conducted, Superintendent Steven Baule said he looked at the pool of candidates from when Williams was hired. Board president Debbie Feick said Perry had applied, but was not made a finalist by former superintendent Tim Heller and former CFO Mark Burkhart.
"We needed to have somebody," Baule said, pointing to the districts' dire financial situation.
The vote included new board member Jason Donati, who replaced Michael Long. Donati and Feick both swore in before the regular meeting started. Feick was made president with Robert Warrner as vice president and Kat Carey as secretary.
Williams — who was formerly a CPA — was hired by Superintendent Steven Baule shortly after he took over as superintendent. They both quickly realized the districts' finances were much worse than the $3 million estimation at the time. By the end of the year, with help from a consultant, the deficit was estimated at $11.5 million.
As the CFO, Williams was a part of some unpopular cost-cutting decisions, including recommending with Baule that the district end its early retirement incentive. She was also involved in the ongoing, contentious collective bargaining process with the teachers union, which escalated to a legal filings against MCS.
Though her tenure may seem short compared to former CFO Mark Burkhart's 40-plus years, the districts' last permanent CFO, Chip Mehaffey, resigned after just six months. Burkhart filled in until Williams was hired.
"We're going broke," said board vice president Robert Warrner, when asked what was causing the quick turnover. "And bean counters don't like the red ink."
Warrner said Williams had little background with school finance when they hired her, although she did have some training from Burkhart.
"Schools are very complex," he said. "It was a difficult adjustment."
Williams said she'll be around until the end of the month, helping Perry transition in.
"I'm sad to go," Williams said. "I met a lot of great people here and worked with a lot of great people and really appreciate the opportunity."
Contact families & education reporter Emma Kate Fittes at 765-213-5845 and follow @EmmaKate_TSP