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Martha Essenmacher also received her first and only job performance evaluation as interim superintendent. That's because the school board is expected to hire her as the permanent chief tonight (June 27).

Essenmacher became interim superintendent in January, when she switched jobs with then superintendent Tim Lentz, who moved into the principal's chair at Maple Valley Elementary.

Last month, a straw vote of the board showed majority support to hire Essenmacher for the permanent position. Official action on the matter was expected to occur at last

Wednesday's board meeting. However, contract negotiations were not completed so the matter was placed on tonight's agenda.

Essenmacher, a 1973 Sandusky graduate who has worked for the district since 1999, received an overall rating of 3.6 on her evaluation. Her composite score on the five-point scale indicated she met "minimal expectations" in the six categories: Overall Performance; Board Relationships; Community Relationship; Administrative Relationships; and Faculty Relationships.

In related action, the board learned that 30 people have applied for elementary principal, including two employees of the district. Essenmacher will conduct the initial screening of applications, and turn the result over to a committee of the board. Lentz' transfer to the princiapl's office in January was temporary; he retired in March but continued to work through the end of the school year under a private contract.

In other action last week:

*Essenmacher reported the results of the voluntary severance offer to teachers. Eight instructors accepted the board's retirement package of $35,000 over two years. The package was offered to teachers with at least 20 years of service in Michigan.

The following teachers will retire by June 30: Diane Cooley, elementary counselor, 13 years at Sandusky; Grant Duley, kindergarten, 32 years at Sandusky; Robert Eager, computer technology, 33 years at Sandusky; Aline Heckroth, high school special education, 17 years at Sandusky; Kathleen Heide, high school physical education, 36 years at Sandusky; Colleen Kaltz, high school counselor, 34 years at Sandusky; Debra Lentz, elementary school music, 28 years at Sandusky; Florence Michelz, kindergarten, 25 years at Sandusky.

*The board approved a staff reduction plan for professional employees. Together with the retirements, the district should save close to the targeted goal of $400,000 in the 2007-08 school year, according to Essenmacher.

Two positions on the original cut list were spared the axe: high school industrial arts teacher, and either a second or third grade teaching slot.

The cuts include: Maple Valley Elementary Ð 1 counselor; 1 kindergarten teacher; middle school Ð 1 special education teacher; high school Ð 1 English teacher, 1/2 counselor, and 2/7 computer teacher.

The board is expected to approve reductions in the support staff in July. The preliminary recommendations call for the layoff of three instructional aides, four health aides, a half-time mechanic, one custodian and the elimination of one bus run.

Board members approved a contract with a private health care agency last week, to provide the same type of services as the health aides that will be pink-slipped. Concerned Home Care of Bad Axe will provide two employees under the contract that is estimated to save the Sandusky district $80,000 a year, said Essenmacher. The parents of two high school students that require the services will help select the employees.