Hallgarth

During a special meeting on March 26, the Baker School Board approved a contract under which the incoming superintendent, Casey Hallgarth, start work part-time on April 1.

The board voted March 5 to hire Hallgarth, who has been superintendent of the Prairie City School District since July 2018 and worked as a sixth grade teacher for the Grant School District in Grant County from 2014-18.

Hallgarth grew up in Elgin.

He was slated to start as Baker superintendent on July 1.

Hallgarth’s salary is $157,455 per year.

The earlier start, in a part-time capacity, will allow Hallgarth to participate in the budget and staffing plan for the coming fiscal year, according to a press release from the district.

“This also allows for Mr. Hallgarth to begin a direct relationship with the school board for planning that affects the future of the district,” the release states. “Current Superintendent Erin Lair will work through the end of June as an advisor; and past Assistant Superintendent Betty Palmer will provide assistance with day-to-day operations for the current school year in a part-time capacity through June, as well.”

Board chair Julie Huntington said the board is pleased that Hallgarth is able to start the transition.

“We feel fortunate that Mr. Hallgarth is able to begin his transition to Baker School District this spring, a strategy that also worked well when we hired Superintendent Lair, since so many decisions affecting next school year are being made now,” Huntington said.

Lair, who was hired in March 2022 and started as superintendent July 1 of that year, announced in November 2023 that she would be leaving the job June 30, 2024.

In a letter to the board, Lair, who grew up in Baker City and attended schools here from kindergarten through high school, wrote that her decision was based on family commitments and not on the job itself.

“When the position in Baker 5J opened, I knew that it was where I wanted to be,” Lair wrote. “Both professionally and personally. Professionally, this has proven true over and over since I joined the district. Personally, I haven’t had the opportunity to fully shift into the community.”