Lawrence school Superintendent Randy Weseman wants to streamline administrative personnel in order to save money, and the school board approved the changes at its meeting Monday night.

One administrative position will be eliminated, saving $60,000.

Here’s what will happen: Frank Harwood, division director of technology, would replace Mary Rodriguez, chief operations officer, when she retires June 30.

An information resources specialist, Chantel Nicolay, will step into a new position — division director of technology and library media services. The position combines her current tasks with the duties of the technology director.

“Everybody has to work harder to get this done, but it is the cleanest way to do this and be able to find some economy right now,” Weseman said.

The information resources specialist position will be cut, saving about $60,000.

“I think this would be a good start to finding some dollars and still get the job done,” Weseman said.

He also recommended that the board hold off on advertising for a deputy superintendent.

The position will be empty upon the retirement of Bruce Passman on June 30. “I’m not recommending or saying that we would eliminate the deputy job,” Weseman said. “There may be a way to find some way to hold off on that position for a while while we get our feet on the ground financially.”

Athletic fields update

The board also heard an update on the athletic facilities upgrades.

Operations and facility planning division director Tom Bracciano said there have been some problems with the weather, but phase one of the upgrade plan should be finished by July.

“We’re right at about the three month mark from when we started on the project,” he said.

At Free State High, Bracciano said, the football field should be done by the end of the week, but there is still asphalt work to do. Baseball fields should be completed in May, soccer in April and softball in June.

Over at Lawrence High, the football field is slated to be done in March, but the track won’t be completed until May. The team will use facilities at South Junior High until work is finished

The softball field and tennis courts should be done in April. The baseball fields at Lawrence Virtual School are slated for a March completion date and parking at both sites should wrap up in July.

Grant won’t run

Board President Craig Grant announced he will not be running for another term on the school board.

“This was a difficult decision for me,” Grant said in a press release. “My new duties as chief of staff with Representative Paul Davis, I believe, will keep me from devoting the time necessary to my school board responsibilities.”

Five people have filed for the three open seats, currently held by Grant, Linda Robinson and John Mitchell.

Robinson has said she was not planning to seek a third term.

Mitchell is seeking re-election. Tom Hartley, Michael Pomes and Vanessa Sanburn filed to run earlier this month, and Robert Byers and Fire Chief Mark Bradford have also recently filed to run.

The deadline for candidates to file is noon today.