A couple of surprising developments came from this morning's release of personnel changes made by the Dade Board of Education at its executive session on Thursday: In addition to the teacher and coach reshuffles the public expected, Superintendent Jan Harris and the board announced a major shakeup at the top level of administration:
Russell Raney, the accountant the Dade system had hired as its new financial director, who was to have started work in March, has bailed. Instead, Dr. Sandra Spivey, now principal at Dade Middle School, will move to Central Office as "director of business operations," a new title.
So what happened to Raney? "He accepted another job over Christmas, and we hate it but it was a family decision," said Dr. Harris.
Photos: Dr. Sandra Spivey, top, will move from principal of DMS to "director of business operations" in lieu of accountant Russell Raney, left, who has decided not to come to Dade after all.
The board and the super had just announced Raney's hire in October to replace Paula Stallings, who had functioned as the system's finance director for many years and was now retiring. Raney had assisted Ms. Stallings for the past few years as the consulting accountant who helped prepare and present the yearly budget. Dr. Harris said in October it was not unusual for a consulting accountant to work as a school system financial director and in fact that's what Raney did currently for an Alabama system. He had planned to move to Dade and start his new job in the spring, but at the end of 2019 was offered a position with the state education system that would allow him and his wife to stay put.
Dr. Spivey, meanwhile, does not have a degree in finance or accounting but "that's not a requirement, it's a bonus," said Dr. H. What Dr. Spivey does have is years of experience dealing with budgets at the highest level of school administration: Like Dr. Harris herself, Dr. Spivey is a former superintendent of an Alabama county school system. Dr. Harris said she was confident Dr. Spivey was more than capable of doing the job. She will be assisted by the other employees in the finance department and by Raney, who will continue advising the Dade as consulting accountant.
Dr. Harris said the board will begin the process of finding a new DMS principal today or tomorrow.
