LTISD Info

Rocky Kirk recently promoted the district’s General Counsel, Susan Bohn, to the district’s Deputy Superintendent.

Talk about crazy! Just what are Susan Bohn’s qualifications and experience to be the Deputy Superintendent? Something isn’t right here and eventually we’ll find out.

It was an act of Rocky Kirk, so I guess that would explain it? Good management and personnel decisions always elude Rocky.

Did Rocky Kirk do this out of desperation or necessity?

You can read the rest of the press release in Lake Travis View’s article announcing this wacky promotion. It is pretty much a carbon copy of the district’s press release. Surprisingly the district’s press release seems to have disappeared from their web site. Never fear, I have archived a copy.

With the departure of Diane Frost, attorney Susan Bohn has been promoted to deputy superintendent of the Lake Travis Independent School District.

That’s the word from Dr. Rocky Kirk, who said the decision was part of a restructuring at LTISD. Last week, Frost designated by the Corsicana ISD Board of Trustees as their lone superintendent finalist.

“The deputy superintendent position and all of the responsibilities it holds is critically important to the successful operation of the District,” said Kirk. “Fortunately, we are able to re-direct these duties internally among staff already in place, rather than searching District for this position. In doing so, we get the dual benefit of lowering administrative costs while taking advantage of the skills, abilities and competencies of talented staff within our own ranks.”

Susan Bohn, currently LTISD General Counsel, will assume the title of Deputy Superintendent and General Counsel. In this role, Bohn will provide leadership to campus principals as well as to numerous administrative functions of the District including communications, community programs, extracurricular programs, and human resources.

-Lake Travis View, May 8, 2010

I like the comments that were made in response to the Lake Travis View article, it seems I am not the only one who ponders this imponderable act:

May 9, 2010 at 9:33 am
What qualifies a social studies teacher who becomes a lawyer and then accepts a job at an ISD to basically handle David Lovelace (and even botches that up requiring 3rd party outside legal counsel) to become the second in command? Those that keep up with the ISD know this is true. Those of you that don’t, take a closer look.

May 13, 2010 at 8:47 am

Oh yeah, lets get some more lawyers in the school district. I am sure they will play an important role in improving education. Why not hire someone to promote better teacher websites, maybe a better math and science program, and better communication. Looks like we are in for more years of poor performance.

May 15, 2010 at 12:02 pm

It is an exciting time for the district? Seriously? It terrifies me. I would love to see the actual financial numbers that show they are saving administrative costs. It looks to me like they are merely adding administrative costs with every administrator they add to the ivory tower. It’s ridiculous. ConcernedParent is right about outside legal counsel. Those bills are already way high and now they will be even worse. Is the board of trustees paying any attention at all to what is happening? Why would a superintendent ever think that a lawyer who taught briefly was qualified to lead principals. What administrative experience does she have? It’s not unconventional it’s laughable. Someone should take a look at how dramatically her salary has increased since she started in Lake Travis. Is ANYONE wondering about this expense?

May 30, 2010 at 8:04 am

They were able to save so much on administrate cost, after the restructuring they gave pay raises to the already over paid administrative staff. Tell me how that is saving the tax payers of LTISD money?

June 1, 2010 at 10:59 am

Disgusted Taxpayer is on the right path. They aren’t saving us a dime of OUR money but rather “redistributing it” and the problem is that the Top 10% of the food chain (admin) gets it all. Whats needed is a taxpayer revolt at the polls the next time they try to paint a bleak and gloomy picture of their financial shape and force them to make do with what the rest of us have to live with. Please don’t let them sing that “Its for the Kids” jargon either….Its for overpaid and under worked Administrators, period! Go check their salaries out

-Lake Travis View, 6/6/2010

Let’s look at some of Susan Bohn’s qualifications for the job as Deputy Superintendent. According to State Board for Educator Certification records, Susan K. Bohn¹ holds the following educator certifications:

¹Verification of Susan’s name required more research. Susan K. Bohn’s (DOB: 5/2/1973) maiden name was Susan Melanie Kolar until her marriage in 2002 (File Number: 164161, 11/23/2002, Harris County). She goes by the name of Susan Kolar Bohn.

Note that Susan Bohn does not hold any administrative certifications. But I am more than certain that Susan’s certification in “Secondary Dance” will more than make up for her lack of administrative experience. Why didn’t the district’s press release mention that?

We are informed all about Susan Bohn’s educational background related to her law degree, but we don’t know anything about her background related to teaching?

Just what educational management experience does Susan Bohn have?

How long did Susan Bohn teach Secondary Dance and/or Secondary Social Studies before embarking on her legal career?

So many questions, so few answers.

I wonder how all of the principals and staff feel about being subordinate to an unqualified and inexperienced Deputy Superintendent?

Let’s look at Susan Bohn’s history with the district. The following pictorial view will aid us.

It would appear on the surface that Susan Bohn has done VERY well with a pay raise of $43,873 (+46%) between November 2006 through at least April 2010 (less than 4 years), but it looks like the job is getting to her.