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Assistant Superintendent to retire, duties reorganized
Brundage named new Asst. Supt.; Rockdale schools HR head to retire
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"Baker named to new RCPS Chief of Staff position; Chesser named Chief Academic Officer" (April 24, 2014)

IN BRIEF: The Rockdale Board of Education approved a reorganization in the duties of cabinet-level leadership with the upcoming retirement of current Assistant Superintendent Gene Baker and named Dr. Garrett Brundage, the current Director of Support Services, as a new assistant superintendent Thursday night.

Over the past year, Baker, the current Chief of Staff and Assistant Superintendent, took on the duties of overseeing ESPLOST (education special purpose local sales tax) funded projects. Many of those projects were technology-related, such as rolling out one-to-one device per student initiative and improving the infrastructure for internet service in the school system.

Baker, 57, an Army veteran and former paratrooper and former history teacher, is set to retire on Friday, Nov. 21. Baker said he looks forward to spending more time with his wife and helping out with her antiques business in the Virginia-Highlands area of Atlanta. His retirement reception will be held Wednesday, Nov. 19, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m., at the board room at the central office, 954 North Main Street, Conyers.

Robert Grover Dailey, the current head of the Office of Technology, was given oversight of those technology-related projects Baker was overseeing. He was named the Chief Technology Officer, a new description for his position, on Thursday night.

Dr. Garrett Brundage, the current head of the Office of Support Services, will continue in that role and will also take on oversight of high schools. He was named an Assistant Superintendent on Thursday night.

Cindy Ball, the current director of Information and Community Relations, was given additional duties with oversight over non-traditional schools Rockdale Career Academy and Rockdale Virtual Campus and a new description for her position - Chief of Strategy and Innovation - on Thursday night.

The long-time director of Human Resources for RCPS, Laura Whiddon, is also set to retire. Kathy Smiley, who currently is in charge of classified staff in the HR office, was named the new director of Human Resources on Thursday night.

All the new positions and descriptions were approved unanimously by all seven school board members.