Superintendent Fritsch will retire after this school year
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, November 17th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Pendleton School Superintendent Chris Fritsch informed the PSD Board of Directors tonight that he intends to retire at the end of the current school year to be able to devote more time to his family.
Here is the message he sent to his administration team following informing the school board of his decision:
Tonight I met with the Board in executive session to tender my intent to retire at the end of this school year. This decision did not come easily, but after 41 years, it is time for me to spend more time with my wife, our kids and grandkids (before they too are grown up and off pursuing their dreams). Hopefully this will remain low-key with little attention. Once it becomes public there may be a few who claim to know the real story or misrepresent truth and reality. Unfortunately for them, there is no backstory, there is no conspiracy, it’s just my time.
It’s important for me that you know that I have enjoyed my time here and one of the biggest reasons has been the opportunity and experience of working with you, both individually and collectively. A superintendent couldn’t ask for a better administrative team. I couldn’t be closing out my professional career surrounded by finer people or more capable professionals. The years ahead of us can and will be exciting times for our District. We have the right people on the bus and in the right seats.
Making this decision now will allow the Board ample time to determine the best path forward. It will also allow us the opportunity to secure a quality consultant and be in front of the search process that leads to the next superintendent of our district. I can assure you that our Board is committed to finding the very best person to join the team.
There will be few, if any, superintendent openings around the state or Northwest, for that matter, that can list the strengths that we can including; 1) a well-oriented, collaborative and professional school board, 2) an outstanding Cabinet, District Office and administrative team, 3) a strong instructional and support staff, 4) an organizational desire to improve upon past successes, 5) a most generous and supportive community, 6) multiple strong and established community partners that provide whole-child services (CTUIR, IMESD, UCoH, YellowHawk, CARE/Umatilla County, KARE/Altrusa, Pendleton Parks & Rec, Pendleton Police Dept, & DHS to name a few), 7) a well-maintained physical plant, 8) a strong financial foundation and sustainable budgeting and expenditure plan, 9) a strategic plan in place that can evolve overtime, and perhaps best of all 10) great students and families in which to serve. Certainly there are more, but you get my point.
With that said, there is still much to be done between now and June 30th beginning with conferences next week. I am confident together we can keep the main thing the main thing!
