Fremont board activates optional third year of superintendent’s contract, opens succession planning

The Fremont Community Schools board voted to activate the optional third year of the current superintendent contract, approving the 2027–28 extension and beginning work on a retirement/succession contract.

A board member (S6) moved to “activate the 3rd year of the current existing” contract and to arrange a retirement-year contract for the superintendent and a successor; Chair (S1) seconded. After extended discussion about timing and whether a retirement date of June 30, 2029 would be finalized now, the chair announced the measure had passed: “So we have an approved 3rd year to the contract,” the chair said.

Board members debated whether the board should set final retirement language now or simply activate the optional year and then negotiate transition terms with the superintendent. S6 said the motion was intended to preserve continuity and to allow the board and the superintendent—referenced in discussion as Dr. Stitt—to prepare a short transition/retirement contract for the successor. The board clarified in the meeting that the 2029 retirement date discussed is not finalized and will be the subject of later negotiations.

The vote was taken by voice with no roll-call tally reported in the transcript. The board recorded the motion and instructions to staff to begin succession planning and to draft the retirement/succession language for future approval.

What happens next: the board and superintendent will meet to draft the successor/retirement contract language and set timelines; the transcript records discussion but no final retirement contract or date was approved at this meeting.