By Sara Ballenger

It’s official. The Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District Board of Trustees has extended Superintendent Rich Fischer’s contract for another year.

“The contract was actually extended to June 30 of 2004,” said Fischer. “When I signed my first contract with the board four years ago, I asked for only a three-year contract.”

A clause in Fischer’s contract extends his contract year by year, pending a satisfactory review from the board, he said. It is customary for the board to evaluate a superintendent at the end of each year, Fischer added.

“We are very delighted to have him here,” said Board President Judy Hannemann. “He is truly an educational leader and a people person too. We have the best of both worlds.”

Fischer has a knack for being an administrator and educator, said Associate Superintendent Steve Hope.

“I have been impressed with his ability to juggle the competing demands of the position and still focus on quality education for students,” Hope said. “He always puts the students first.”

Fischer came to the district four years ago after serving as superintendent of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District in South Lake Tahoe for eight years.

“I love working in this school district and with this board, staff and students,” Fischer said. “I am thrilled the board has confidence in my ability to continue to be effective.”

Fischer is only the sixth superintendent in the district’s 100-year history.

“We have a history of really good superintendents - a stability,” Hannemann said. “He adds to that group of really good people.”