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Atlantic Board hires FCS specialist after year-long search

News

July 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education Tuesday, approved a recommendation from Middle School Principal Josh Rasmussen, for the hiring of a Family and Consumer Science Instructor. Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein said the position will finally be filled after a year-long search.

Carolyn Russell (from her Linked-In profile)

Carolyn Russell (from her Linked-In profile)

Amstein says Rassmussen recommended the hiring of Carolyn Russell, from Minnetonka, MN. She’s fully-endorsed in Family and Consumer Science. Rasmmussen said Russell has started FCS programs from scratch in other schools, and will be helping Atlantic’s fledgling program get off the ground. That includes getting the students lab time in areas such as cooking and sewing.

Every 6th, 7th and 8th grader will be required to take the class and related labs. Russell has an impressive resume. She has years of experience, including working for General Mills, being a Culinary Specialist. She has an MBA in marketing from Indiana Wesleyan University, a BA from Iowa State University in Vocational Family and Consumer Science, and a Bachelor of Science degree in General Food Science from the University of Illinois.

Rasmussen said Russell saw the Atlantic School District’s website, and liked what she saw. On her way to Atlantic from Minnesota last week, Russell ran into trouble, in the form of Mother Nature. He says she was caught in the massive hail storm near Adair. Her car was a mess, but Russell still made it into town and accepted the position.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board renewed Superintendent Amstein’s contract for the 2014-15 school year. The contract calls for a two-percent negotiated increase in pay, and for a payment of $25,000 upon retirement, to a health insurance plan.

The Board also received and approved a resignation from para-educator Michelle McLaren who was hired for another position within the district but had not turned in her resignation from her current position. And, the Board approved the first reading of a new policy with regard to Honorary Diplomas. Superintendent Amstein said there was a request made to the Board for that, and since there was none in-place, that topic is up for discussion and possible action. He said it’s a “Good opportunity to award those individuals, who for one reason or another, may not have been able to complete their high school education, but certainly have made [documented] contributions to the school district itself or to the community.”