Management Review Team Announced; Opening Meeting Scheduled for 3/18

RE:

Management Review Team Announced; Opening Meeting Scheduled for 3/18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Carol Mowen, 301-766-2996; Spence Perry, 301-766-2816 or 301-797-8969.

HAGERSTOWN, MD (March 15, 2002) - Interim Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Morgan and Spence Perry, volunteer steering committee chairman, recently finalized the business partners who will conduct a Management Review of the business-related departments of the Washington County Public Schools. MRT partners include the following:

• Facilities: Harry Reynolds and Sam Young, Callas Construction;
• Finance: Jim Hess, Farmers and Merchants Bank and Trust; Brad Pingrey, Allfirst Bank; John Schnebly, Keller-Stonebreaker Insurance; William Wivell, Allegheny Energy;
• Food Services: Frank Ganassa, Aramack Food Services;
• Human Resources: Art Callaham, Greater Hagerstown; Tom Janus; and Ellen Gercke, Citicorp;
• Public Information: Phil Kelly, Citicorp; and Mary Colburn-Green, Marketing Solutions, Inc., of Maryland/Insight Research and Planning;
• Technology: Bob Cianelli, DM Bowman Company; Clint Wiley, New Frontiers Communications;
• Transportation: Don Bowman, DM Bowman Company; Kevin Cerrone, Washington County Commuter.

Although some working groups began to collect information early, the Management Review Team officially begins intensive work on Monday, March 18, with a meeting at 9:30 AM in the Board auditorium. The team is divided into working groups of 2-3 business partners each to study the Central Office departments of Facilities, Finance, Food Services, Human Resources, Public Information, Technology, and Transportation.

"These working groups will collect information and make recommendations to the steering committee members who will then produce a Management Review Team Report for Interim Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Morgan and Board Liaison Dori Nipps," said Mr. Perry.

Dr. Morgan and staff are preparing for the review by collecting data and background information about each department's processes and organization for the team's working groups. The Management Review provides an opportunity for self-reflection and analysis that should lead to increased efficiency and effectiveness.

"We are anticipating several outcomes from the process," said Dr. Morgan. "First, we hope to receive feedback on what we do well. In addition, we are looking for any potential quick fixes for unseen problems, issues that can be resolved by changes in policy, operations, or systems, and longer-term changes that may need additional study. We are hopeful this will be the start of an ongoing dialogue with the business community."

The goals of the MRT include providing better service to the school system's Central Office customers (school-based personnel, parents, and the public-at-large), operating at peak efficiency, conserving resources and taxpayer dollars, and running quality operations in all the Central Office departments.

Steering committee members include the following Washington County leaders: Mike Callas, Callas Contractors; Pat Halladay, Wright-Gardner Insurance and current president of the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce; Gaye McGovern, State Farm Insurance; Jim Pierne, Farmers and Merchants Bank and Trust; Mary K. Shaw, retired educator; John Waltersdorf, retired business leader; John League, Herald Mail, and Anthony Dahbura, Hub Labels.