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Superintendent reaches out digitally

JANESVILLE — Janesville’s interim school superintendent did something Monday that no previous superintendent has done: She spoke to her staff through a video posted online.

Superintendent Karen Schulte said she would make weekly addresses through “vodcasts,” which are available to anyone who can access the district’s Web site.

“Vodcast” is short for video podcast. A podcast is a digital audio recording that can be downloaded.

In her first video, recorded with the help of Craig High School staff, Schulte noted that the district and the wider community face serious challenges in the months ahead because of the economy and local layoffs.

Schulte asked staff members to help her with ideas for saving money to balance the school district’s 2009-10 budget.

“We are not going to get through this through my efforts alone,” Schulte said. “I’m going to need your support, help and ideas.”

Schulte also asked staff to ignore rumors about who might be affected by upcoming budget cuts.

Schulte said she would communicate with anyone affected by budget cuts first, and then with the rest of the school community.

Schulte said the governor has not yet let the district know if any money from the federal stimulus package would help the district.

Schulte was appointed interim superintendent Feb. 10 after the school board ended its relationship with longtime Superintendent Tom Evert.

The search for a permanent replacement for Evert is ongoing. The school board plans to have a new superintendent in place July 1. Schulte said previously that she would apply for the job.