Altamont School Board Approves Teacher Contract

The Altamont Board of Education Monday ratified a one-year contract agreement with members of the Altamont Education Association. 

A tentative agreement on a contract was reached two weeks ago, the night before a strike was to begin.

Of the one-year agreement, Altamont Superintendent Jeff Fritchtnitch said the District allocated $50,000 to the Altamont Education Association, which decided how to split the funds.  He said the teachers divided the funds equally among Association members, which came out to an increase of "just a little bit over 2% for this year, retroactive to August when the previous agreement expired."

In a separate vote Monday, the school board voted to grant 2% increases to the hourly rates of non-certified staff members for the school year.

Also Monday, the Altamont board discussed another round of District Strategic Planning.  Fritchtnitch said they're aiming for February for the planning, which would involve teachers and board members and administrators, but also parents and members of the general public.  He said a similar effort was undertaken five years ago and it will again be facilitated by the Illinois Association of School Boards.

Board members heard that Altamont Grade School enrollment was at 501 students as of October 2, seven fewer than a year earlier. and enrollment at Altamont Community High School was at 284 students, up from 259 students at the same time a year earlier.

High School Principal Jerry Tkachuck reported his staff members have begun to examine their system and scales in reference to grading, assessment, and what exactly a grade is meant to represent.  He plans further discussion at the teacher workshop this Friday, but feels the work last week "has exposed something good for us to pursue."  Parent/teacher conferences are set for October 24-25 for students who receive a grade of "D" or lower for the first quarter.

In personnel moves, the Altamont board employed Alan Whitt as boys basketball varsity assistant and employed Logan Ellington as boys basketball frosh/soph coach.