Cedar Rapids school board cements district's administrative team

The Cedar Rapids Community School District's administrative team is now in place, at least for the 2013-14 school year.

During Monday's regular meeting, the board approved a combination of reassignments to cement the district's leadership.

Mary Ellen Maske is officially the new deputy superintendent, following Gary O'Malley's departure to the Mount Vernon Community School District where he is now superintendent. Trace Pickering will take over Maske's former associate superintendent position, though the title and job description have been changed to emphasize innovation, school improvement and technology.

As the executive director of pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, a position the district did not have during the 2012-13 school year, Valerie Dolezal will take over some of Maske's previous duties. Monica Frey is stepping in for Dolezal as the interim principal at Grant Elementary School for 2013-14.

Maske will earn $159,510 and Pickering will take home an annual salary of $145,000. Dolezal's new role comes with a $124,000 annual salary and Frey's in $103,734.

Maske's promotion is retroactively effective July 1. The hiring of Frey and Dolezal took effect on Monday while Pickering will not officially join the district until Thursday, Aug. 1.

The school board also approved the nonrenewal of Director of Student Equity Aaron Green's contract.