New Kensington-Arnold considers extending superintendent’s contract

The New Kensington-Arnold school board will vote Tuesday on whether to extend Superintendent Chris Sefcheck’s employment.

Sefcheck’s initial five-year contract began July 1, 2021, and runs through June 30, 2026. The new five-year contract would begin Tuesday and end June 30, 2029, extending his employment by three years.

“We want to keep him under contract as long as he wants,” school board Chairman Tim Beckes said Monday.

To do so, the board will first accept his resignation, effective Tuesday, before reappointing him as district superintendent.

Sefcheck could not be reached for comment Monday.

The school board decided to extend Sefcheck’s term as superintendent, Beckes said.

Beckes said the board was pleased with Sefcheck’s work on the district’s budget, discipline and student achievement issues.

“We’re very excited to have Chris for three more years,” he said. “He’s done great things for the district in moving us forward. We feel very fortunate to have him.”

Under the resolution, Sefcheck’s salary would be set at just over $148,000 in his first year. That would be a roughly 3.5 per cent increase from the roughly $143,000 he’s been earning since council last approved a 3.5 per cent raise for Sefcheck in November, retroactive to July 1, 2023, and valid through Sunday.

The new contract provides for $5,000 salary increases for each of the first three years, Beckes said. Increases for the final two years will be at the discretion of the school board, he added.

The school board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Valley High School meeting room. The district says the meeting will not be available virtually due to technical difficulties.