Two Worthington school board members voted against the hiring of a new administrator for McCord Middle School, although three board members approved the hiring.

The Worthington school board met Monday, April 26, at the Worthington Education Center.

On the agenda was the hiring of Nathan Kellenberger for the position of assistant principal and athletic director at McCord, at a salary of $87,194.

The reason listed on the agenda was "new position due to the middle school restructuring.

The district plans to bring Perry Middle School students into the McCord building this fall, leaving only Phoenix Middle School students in the Perry building, as a part of a major middle school restructuring designed to lower the cost per student at the middle school level.

Board Vice President Marc Schare told board members before voting on the hiring of Kellenberger that he would vote "no."

"I will apologize in advance to Mr. Kellenberger ... my rationale has nothing to do with him personally," he said.

Schare said Kellenberger's salary was determined by the district's administrative salary schedule.

"When I inquired what Mr. Kellenberger's previous salary was, I learned that this was not the basis upon which we determined the salary to offer ... By placing the newly created position of assistant middle school principal on the administrative salary schedule at the same place as other secondary assistant principals, we are potentially granting an arguably unnecessary and rather large increase in salary (and) benefits to attract our new administrator to the district," he said.

Schare said he understood the district is replacing an 185-day position with a 240-day position, but thought a previous salary should be part of the salary and benefit calculation.

"Our district is facing a financial tsunami," he said. "We have been warned that cuts at the state level are very possible. We have been warned by our taxpayers with their votes a year ago that passing high-millage levies are going to be difficult.

"We have got to start thinking out of the box and perhaps out of the comfort zone of K-12 education doctrine, even if that means that sacred cows like the administrative salary schedule must be looked at," he said.

Superintendent Melissa Conrath said Kellenberger is replacing a dean of students at McCord.

"Our current dean of students was interested in going back into the classroom, so Mr. Kellenberger will be taking over the duties of the dean, but also acting as athletic director," she said. "He will also be working 240 days instead of 180 days as dean of students."

Conrath said the district actually will save about $1,600 a year by replacing the dean of students with an administrator who also will serve as an athletic director.

Both Schare and Charlie Wilson voted "no" to hire Kellenberger; board President Julie Keegan, Jennifer Best and David Bressman voted "yes."

Kellenberger is currently an administrator at a middle school in New Albany and will begin his new job in Worthington on Aug. 1.