Altamont Board Extends Administrator Contracts

Altamont school board members Monday approved multi-year contracts for Superintendent Jeff Fritchtnitch and high school principal Jerry Tkachuk.  

Fritchtnitch was given a five-year contract and Tkachuk was given a three-year contract.  Annual administrator contracts were approved for Charlie Niehaus and Kathy Clausius.

The Board accepted the resignation of Kelsey Burrow as junior high Student Council advisor, and approved reductions in force for support staff members Mona Duckwitz, Kara LaMar, Kassie Bullard, Lindsay Wendling and Stephanie Hudgens, although they could later be recalled based on finances and enrollment.  Bryan White was approved as a volunteer softball assistant coach.

Altamont board members approved expansion of the Love and Logic parenting program to area parents; increased class, activity and lunch fees as discussed in a previous meeting; and approved the last day of attendance for eighth graders as May 30.

Fritchtnitch reported on a meeting of a construction consortium from Effingham County earlier this month.  The group is hoping to start a CEO-type class focused on preparing students to work in construction.  He also reported that Baccalaureate will be held May 18 and high school graduation will be held on May 31.  

Board members heard that high school enrollment is up 10 from last year, while grade school enrollment is down 20.