ACGC considers restructuring administration for long-term benefit; meeting set next week

GROVE CITY -- Options for restructuring administrative staff in the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School District will be discussed at 6 p.m. Tuesday during a special board meeting in the media center at the middle school/high school.

One of the tasks before the board is to find a permanent superintendent for the district.

ACGC is on its second interim, part-time superintendent.

Dr. Keith Redfield was named interim superintendent in July 2007 after Pamela Kyllingstad agreed to step out of the superintendent position. Redfield, a retired superintendent who commuted from Alexandria, worked for ACGC for a year.

Roger Reuckert, also a retired superintendent, took over the post and is currently serving in the interim capacity under a one-year contract, with an option for two additional years.

Chairwoman Judy Raske said the goal is to hire a permanent superintendent, although it may not necessarily be a full-time position. Raske said the interim superintendents have helped the district get a levy approved, move out of statutory operating debt and makes updates to an outdated curriculum.

But, she said, having a permanent administrator would help carry the district's academic and financial mission forward into the future.

"We need long-term consistency," she said.

The district's longtime business manager, Connie Dallmann, is also expected to retire sometime in the next year and the board is looking at different possibilities for filling that role. It's even possible one person could serve as superintendent and business manager.

Raske said the board hasn't ruled out any options at this point.

With new levy revenue expected to start coming into the district next year, she said the board has been given an "opportunity from taxpayers" to take the district in a positive direction. She said the board intends to be "really smart in how we use this money."

A committee made up of several school board members and school administrators have been gathering information about options that will be presented to the full board Tuesday.

Action isn't expected to be taken until the Feb. 23 board meeting.