Altenburg District 48 board votes to offer superintendent post to Emily Koenig; vote follows earlier failed motion for Seth Ward

The Altenburg District #48 Board of Education voted Oct. 23, 2025, to extend an offer to Emily Koenig as its first-choice superintendent, approving the motion 4-2.

The decision followed an earlier motion by board member Andrew Lichtenegger, seconded by Richard Sachs, to offer the position to Seth Ward as first choice and Emily Koenig as second choice; that motion was recorded as denied, 2-3. The meeting minutes do not specify which board members cast the recorded votes or explain an apparent discrepancy between those tallies and the seven members listed as present.

Cary Roth moved, and Lindsay Palisch seconded, the successful motion to extend the offer to Koenig. The board recorded conditions of employment for the position: a two-year contract beginning July 1, 2026; salary determined by years of experience on the district's current salary schedule; 220 contract days per year; 10 days of paid time off per fiscal year; and $675 toward the monthly insurance premium. Board President Jessica Hecht is listed in the minutes as reserving the right to negotiate the offer consistent with the board’s agreed conditions.

The minutes do not record statements from the candidates or indicate whether either candidate was present at the meeting. They also do not list how each board member voted on the superintendent motions. That detail could affect transparency for stakeholders seeking to track individual positions on the hire.

The board also approved the meeting agenda and adjourned the open session at 7:50 p.m.; the adjournment motion was recorded as approved 7-0.

Next steps in the minutes indicate the board will proceed with offering the contract under the terms recorded; the minutes do not include the candidate’s response or a signed agreement.