By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Mark Pienkos, who has been at the helm of the Washington-Caldwell School District for seven years, will soon step down, but maintain a limited presence in the upcoming school year as part of a plan adopted recently by officials.
The School Board on May 18 officially issued a 2015-16 contract to Pienkos’ successor, Jill Saltzmann, who will serve as the full-time principal of the K-8, one-school district.
Saltzmann, a 19-year veteran of the school district, was expected to assume the position as part of a long-range succession plan that has been mapped out in recent years.
But Pienkos also will maintain a presence at Washington-Caldwell in 2015-16, albeit in a more reduced role. While he is relinquishing many of his day-to-day duties, Pienkos will continue to serve as district administrator on a part-time basis.
By retaining the part-time status this upcoming school year, Pienkos said he will assist in the continued transition in leadership. His contract calls for him to work at the school five days a month and attend all regular School Board meetings.
“I love Washington-Caldwell and am happy to continue,” Pienkos said. “I know that Jill will do well for the district. It should be a smooth transition.”
To date, Pienkos’ career in education has spanned 42 years and has included work as a teacher, school counselor, associate principal, principal and superintendent. Prior to joining Washington-Caldwell, he worked at schools in the Lake Geneva area.
In other business May 18, the Washington-Caldwell School Board:
- Appointed School Board members to their respective roles as part of the customary reorganization that takes place after the spring general election.
Tim Szeklinski will serve as board president, Robert Dixon as vice president, John Bieringer as treasurer, Stacey Forkner as clerk and Todd Bluhm as director and the district’s liaison to the Cooperative Education Service Agency (CESA) that provides program support to districts across the state.
- Discussed the reinstatement of Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) grant dollars. The district had recently lost the federal funds because of a reclassification system that suggested Washington-Caldwell no longer fit the criteria of a rural school district.
Through a series of maneuvers, Pienkos said Kelli Vogt, the district’s library media specialist, managed to recapture the REAP grant funds, which total about $22,000 and go toward purchasing and maintaining technology.
- Approved Washington-Caldwell’s participation in the Waterford Special Education Cooperative program for the 2015-16 school year. Other participants include The North Cape and Waterford Graded feeder districts, as well as Waterford Union High School.
In the year ahead, Pienkos said Washington-Caldwell is expected to pay less into the cooperative because the district has projected hosting fewer students in need of special education programs.
- Discussed and approved health insurance quotes for the 2015-16 school year. Rates are expected to increase 3.8 percent, but Pienkos said the increase is smaller compared to figures in some nearby school districts.
- Approved a plan to appoint an as-yet unnamed person to serve as the district’s athletic director in 2015-16. Saltzmann had assumed the position in years past, but her changing responsibilities next year will necessitate looking for another person to fill the role.
Pienkos said the goal is to appoint an existing staffer to the position and offer him or her a stipend.
-
-
-
-
-