Dronebarger Receives Good Evaluation From White Co BOE

White County Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger received a 3.089 out of four on the school board’s yearly evaluation.

School Board members answered over 50 questions over a wide range of topics such as test scores and graduation rates. Before the board approved the evaluation Thursday, Member Dewayne Howard said he would like the parameters reviewed.

“It didn’t leave any instructions to where you could personally write and say, ‘Well I don’t know anything about this right here.’ Is there another score that we can give that wouldn’t bring done or add to something?” Howard said. “I mean a lot of things here that for me it is an evaluation that is hard to give.”

School Board Chair Jayson McDonald said under school policy, the board has the authority to change the review process. School Board Member Bob Young said he would also like to reevaluate in conjunction with Director of School Kurt Dronebarger.

“I tend to agree with Mr. Howard,” Young said. “We should probably revisit this evaluation where it is objective in our evaluation and that evaluation is in line with the goals and objectives of this district and this board.”

The board approved a motion by Young to add the director’s evaluation method for further discussion to an agenda before July. Dronebarger said the board’s evaluation showed that he needs to better involve teachers in decisions.

“One thing that I want to focus on is making sure teachers have voices in decisions,” Dronebarger said. “I’ll certainly make that a goal, and I’m open to what other goals the board would have for me moving forward.”

Along with the evaluation, McDonald said school board members need to discuss the director’s salary. Discussion of a raise did not move forward after Young said the director’s pay should instead be considered in a budget work session.

McDonald said Dronebarger has two years left on his contract.