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Clinton high principal promoted

CLINTON — The Clinton School District has tapped high school principal Marc Eckmann to take over a new, district-wide administrative position.

Eckmann on July 1 will become the district's director of educational services.

That's one position consolidated from two as the district looks to close a projected $300,000 revenue shortage in the 2009-10 school year.

The people who held the two positions are leaving the district:

-- Kathryn Houseman, director of curriculum and instruction, will retire at the end of the year.

-- Denise Wellnitz, director of pupil services, has accepted a position as the administrator of the Darlington School District.

Eckmann's position will oversee several programs including special education, ESL and guidance counseling. Consolidating the two positions will tighten the way the district gathers and shares information about curriculums and pupil services, school board President Randy Gracyalny said.

The position also will be a personal challenge for Eckmann, who has excelled as a principal, Gracyalny said.

"We think Marc will rise to the challenge," Gracyalny said. "He's proven that in everything that he's done. He's proven that he's very capable and willing."

The Clinton district hired Eckmann, a Waukesha native, in July 2006.

He has been associate principal of Franklin and Portage high schools and principal of Portage Academy of Achievement, an alternative high school for at-risk students.

Eckmann received his undergraduate degree from UW-Stout and holds a master's degree in education administration from UW-Madison.

The district will post the high school principal position this week, Business Administrator Kathy Zwirgzdas said.