Portola Valley, Woodside school districts to share assistant superintendent Portola Valley, Woodside school districts to share assistant superintendent (July 14, 2004)

** Business Manager Tim Hanretty takes the new position.

By Marjorie Mader
Almanac Staff Writer

For the first time, Portola Valley and Woodside elementary school districts are sharing an assistant superintendent, a newly created position for both districts.

Tim Hanretty, business manager for the two districts under a joint-powers agreement for the past four and one-half school years, is moving up to this new position.

"Tim has performed admirably" as business manager for both districts, said Portola Valley Superintendent Anne Campbell. Now both districts need more administrative oversight, including over such functions as human resources and technology, she said

Superintendent Campbell recommended the appointment of Mr. Hanretty, an employee of the Portola Valley district, to the new position. Portola Valley trustees approved the creation of the position and the selection of Mr. Hanretty at their June 23 meeting.

Woodside trustees are scheduled to approve the recommended title change for Mr. Hanretty at their August 11 meeting.

"Definitely, I think this is absolutely the right direction to move," said Woodside board President Lori Livingston last week. "Tim is a terrific employee, and he's very, very valuable to our district."

Mr. Hanretty moved into the new position July 1. His annual salary is $133,900 to be shared by the two districts. This salary reflects almost a 12- percent increase over his previous salary of $120,000. He will be adding the human resources and technology functions to his business office role.

"I'm excited about looking at other opportunities to share services such as technology, staffing, maintenance and curriculum between districts, with an eye to improving services and saving money," said Mr. Hanretty.

Mr. Hanretty was recruited and hired as Portola Valley's business manager in 1999. He immediately became involved in the district's $17-million bond project to renovate and build new classrooms and facilities at Corte Madera and Ormondale schools. When an additional $6-million bond measure was passed in 2001 to complete the project, Mr. Hanretty provided the construction and financial oversight.

In 2002, he completed the necessary graduate-level course work and training program to become certified by the state of California as "chief business official," a title used more commonly now than "business manager." A year later, he finished the course work and training program required to be certified by the state as "human resource administrator" for K-12 education.

Previously, he was an administrator in the Redwood City School District, providing general services and oversight for the district's renovation and construction projects.

After graduating from the University of San Francisco and majoring in public administration, Mr. Hanretty took a job with Catholic Charities/CYO in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. He worked there for 15 years, leaving in 1999 as director of administration and finance for the charity group.

Mr. Hanretty has another shared identity with Woodside and Portola Valley. His home is in Woodside and also in the Portola Valley School District's attendance area.

Earlier, the superintendents and board presidents of the two districts met to identify the needs for additional administrative oversight. They developed the concept for the assistant superintendent position, outlining roles and responsibilities. The joint-powers agreement for business services is being revised.

The two districts also share services for special education under another joint-powers agreement. Both K-8 schools are basic-aid districts with the preponderance of funding coming from local property taxes, parcel taxes, and contributions from their nonprofit school foundations. The combined enrollment at Portola Valley's two schools, Corte Madera and Ormondale, is about 680. Woodside, a one-school district, has about 450 students.

E-mail Marjorie Mader at mmader@AlmanacNews.com

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