SpringfieldNewsSun.com

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield City Schools director of secondary academic services has resigned over an alleged disagreement with Superintendent Jean Harper and amid sinking morale among administrators.

Greg McFann announced he was resigning Friday, March 7, but Harper did not make the formal announcement to district staff until Wednesday, March 12.

McFann's resignation allegedly stems from a disagreement with Harper over her decision to put him on an improvement plan and from plummeting morale among the district's administrative staff.

Harper said she could not comment on personnel matters.

Mattie White, director of school services, said she heard of the improvement plan idea secondhand, but did not know if that is why McFann resigned.

At a Feb. 22 meeting attended by board members Donna Picklesimer and Ed Leventhal, Becky Scovill, a district payroll supervisor, read a statement outlining morale concerns on behalf of administrators.

"Administrative morale is at an all-time low. The beginning relationship between the board and the administrative team appears to be one of mistrust," the letter stated.

Scovill said she was speaking on behalf of all principals and the administrative support staff. McFann is an administrator and regarded as a member of Harper's Cabinet.

McFann did not return calls seeking comment. He is employed through the county's Educational Service Center and started with the district in July 2005 with a salary of about $87,000 a year.

Picklesimer, as well as White, said they did no know if his abrupt resignation has anything to do with low morale.

Picklesimer said she is aware of concerns over the new evaluation process of school principals and how contracts are going to now be renewed through board approval, not automatically by a good evaluation.

"They told us they weren't opposed to a new evaluation process," said Picklesimer, speaking about conversations at the Feb. 22 meeting. "They were concerned about the timing and the message being sent. When making change you have to start somewhere and the principals play a very important role in our schools. You can't make change without someone being first."

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0373 or lsullivan@coxohio.com