Abington School Board Names New Assistant Super

The Abington School Board won’t need a search committee to find a replacement for the district’s retiring assistant superintendent … but it will need one to find a replacement for the high school principal.

Last night, the Abington School Board approved a motion appointing Abington Senior High School Principal Jeffrey Fecher the district’s next assistant superintendent. 

“After much thought, and consultation and two executive sessions … we came to the conclusion that we didn’t need to search for an assistant superintendent,” Sichel said last night. “[Fecher] is dedicated, he is committed, he is confident, compassionate and he is an excellent worker. We feel he is the right person for the job.”

One can’t help but think of Dwight Schrute from “The Office” when reading the entire motion, but here’s the breakdown:

• Fecher will continue in his role of Abington Senior High School principal at least until the end of the school year.
• Effective July 1, Fecher will serve a six-month term as Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools.
• Effective Jan. 1, 2014, Fecher will serve a five-year term as Assistant Superintendent of Schools along with current Assistant Superintendent Leigh Altadonna until Altadonna retires in September 2014.
• The school board accepted Altadonna’s retirement last month and thanked him for giving the district such a long period of transition.

Fecher is a former English teacher and he has also has worked as an administrator at the elementary, middle school and senior high school levels. He earned his doctorate in educational and organizational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.

Fecher, who took the reins of the high school in July 2008, said after the meeting that he’s pleased with the decision. 

“I had aspirations to move in this direction — it’s what I went to school for,” Fecher said. “I think that a lot of people will want to know what the next stage is for the high school and I hope that we can work with the administration and Dr. Sichel to provide a replacement for me and lead the school in a very positive manor.”

The process of finding a new senior high school principal starts “immediately,” Sichel said.

After the motion passed, the boardroom erupted in applause; after the meeting, almost everyone in the boardroom shook his hand to congratulate him upon leaving. 

“We’re delighted in this recommendation by Dr. Sichel,” school board vice-president Jeffrey Bates said. “Fecher a great asset and we’re happy that he was selected this particular position. It’s difficult to lose Dr. Altadonna, and it’s equally difficult to lose Dr. Fecher from high school.”