Altamont Board Approves Roof Repair, Playground Renovation

Altamont school board members this week approved repairs to the grade school roof, which was damaged in last week's storms.

Altamont Superintendent Jeff Fritchtnitch said the winds left a 3-1/2 to four foot tear in the seam of the roof. District Maintenance Director Alan Whitt made temporary repairs. The Board approved permanent repairs at a cost of just under $25,000.

Board members also approved a playground renovation project at Altamont Grade School. The district checked playgrounds in other districts before deciding whether and how to proceed. The project will cost just over $316,000.

Also approved was a contract with GRP Mechanical to conduct the district's 10-year health and life safety survey. The survey guides needed repairs in the district over the following decade and guidelines the State in helping fund the work.

Fritchtnitch told the Board that the State still is delinquent in reimbursing the district for categorical expenditures totaling a little over $294,000. No payments have been received for transportation, school breakfast and lunch, and special education expenses.

The superintendent also reported an open house was held March 9 on behalf of the County Facilities Tax referendum, and that a Meet the Candidates Forum will take place on March 21 at 6:30pm in the grade school cafeteria to meet the Altamont school board candidates.

In personnel moves, Fritchtnitch was authorized to advertise for a district technology integration specialist, resignations were accepted from two certified staff members, and action on administrative contracts was tabled. Also non-tenure teachers Jay Koester, Rhiannon Boehm, Tether Campbell, Megan Burrus, Aaron Lock, Casie Bowman, Megan Cole, Sara Berg and Kacy Perry were renewed for next school year; teacher Eric Heiden was granted tenure status; continued employment was approved for school psychologist Kathy Clausius, district nurse Stephanie DuPlayee, District Maintenance Director Alan Whitt, and District Transportation Director Mark Holland; and Trenton Deadmond, Clint Reardon and Mindie McManaway were approved as volunteer coaches. The Board also reduced in force high school special education aide Stephanie Hudgens, and Special Education aides Kassie Bullard, Laurie Graves, Michelle Starwalt and Barb Williams.

The Board set a special meeting for May 1 to seat the Board members to be elected in the April 4 balloting, and set a hearing at the April 10 meeting on the sale of health and life safety bonds.