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News
School district hires new transportation chief : News : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisSchool district hires new transportation chief
| Berlin has worked previously for Naperville, Valley View districts
| by Lyle R. Rolfe
| 10/18/2012
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The Oswego School District Board has approved the hiring of Derek Berlin of Shorewood as the head of the district's transportation department.
Berlin will begin his new duties with the district on Monday, Oct. 29.
He replaces Angie Smith who earlier this year had taken over the department along with other duties after the board chose not to renew the contract of Larry Martinez.
Berlin comes to the district from the Valley View Unit School District, which serves Bolingbrook, Romeoville and portions of Plainfield, Lockport, and Downers Grove. At Valley View, Berlin was director of transportation for special services, a position he held since 2004.
Before working for Valley View, Berlin served from 1989 to 2004 as transportation coordinator in the Naperville School District.
Berlin has received several honors such as the State of Illinois Rodeo Driver of the Year award through the Illinois Association for Pupil Transportation in 1993 and the Professional Growth Award from the National Association for Pupil Transportation in 2006.
"It is with great honor to accept the position of director of transportation," Berlin said. "It is my goal and desire to make the transportation department a world-class facility able to support the needs of students and parents."
"Our plan is to ensure a world-class transportation department is a part of a world-class school district," Superintendent Dr. Matthew Wendt told board members.
"I am confident Berlin is the person to lead the department at this critical time. As we develop plans to educate over 20,000 students before 2020, it is wise to ensure the best leadership is in place in the department.
"Whether it is a morning or afternoon route, special education route or activity trip, we want a system that guarantees the highest level of student safety, customer service, parent communication and quality service at an affordable rate. It is a great day in the school district with the employment of a national certified student transportation leader," he said.
Board President Bill Walsh noted that Berlin's 23 years experience in school transportation and his having a director of transportation certification "proves he has the knowledge to reduce the cost of the district's $9.5 million transportation operation and provide approximately 12,000 bused students with the best service possible.
"The board is confident in Berlin's ability to improve efficiencies and meet defined service commitments to our students and parents," Walsh said.
Berlin's annual salary has been set at $96,335, which includes $4,335 the district contributes toward his Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) retirement.
His contract goes from Oct. 29 through June 30, 2013. Because he will start work after the July 1 start of the fiscal year, Berlin's prorated salary for the remaining eight months of the 2012-2013 school year is $64,840.89, which includes IMRF.
Martinez' annual salary was $78,533 which included his IMRF contribution.
John Sparlin, executive director for administrative services, said 26 people applied for the position.
The job was posted on the school district's website and the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) website.
Berlin is a Certified Director of Transportation and received his certificate from the National Association of Pupil Transportation (NAPT) in 2006.
Certification as a Director of Pupil Transportation is available to those individuals who are qualified to serve as the top administrator of a pupil transportation system.
They must demonstrate that they are capable of handling a position that involves establishing programs and policies, setting standards, developing materials, and providing leadership to achieve designated goals. They must also have at least five years experience in a pupil transportation position of responsibility commensurate with the category of certification.
NAPT membership is open to any individual interested in, engaged in, or associated with any phase of pupil transportation.
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