Mohonasen superintendent's contract extended

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Goot

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Mohonasen Central School District Superintendent Kathleen Spring’s contract has been extended for another year.

Like many school superintendents in this area, Spring has a rolling three-year deal. The Board of Education tacked on another year to carry it through 2015.

The extension does not contain an increase to her current salary of $174,798, however.

School board President Dom Cafarelli said Spring has done a great job in managing the budget in a difficult fiscal climate. She also helped the district obtain multiple grants.

Last year, the district received $644,572 as the first installment of a three-year federal Carol M. White Physical Education Program grant that it used to expand physical education offerings. The district was able to buy fitness equipment and paid for some staff with the grant.

Last spring, the district was informed it was going to receive $1.8 million over three years through a state School District Improvement Grant. Mohonasen qualified because of improving student performance, especially among students with the greatest educational needs.

The funds will be used to expand vocational offerings in machining, sports management, medical technology and culinary arts.

Those new revenues have cushioned the financial squeeze facing most school districts, according to Cafarelli.

“It allowed us to bring back people that we would have otherwise had to let go,” he said.

Spring said she is also waiting to hear back from the state on grants to strengthen teacher and leader effectiveness and to explore shared services with two neighboring school districts, Schalmont and Duanesburg.

Board member Mark Moran also congratulated Spring on the extension and praised her work.

“It’s not an easy course to navigate. I appreciate all the hard work and extra hours,” he said.