Tim Ryan, tryan@shawanoleader.com
The Shawano School District has hired a new business manager to replace Gail Moesch, effective April 1.
Louise Fischer is currently business manager at Lakeland Union High School and previously held that position at the Merrill School District. Prior to that she was in the finance department at the Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District.
“We feel she has a presence about her,” Shawano School District Administrator Gary Cumberland said.
Cumberland said Fischer has extensive knowledge that will help her explain the budgeting process, and the impact state funding has on it, in terms that anyone can understand.
“She likes explaining things in a lay person’s terms,” he said.
“We were fortunate to find a quality person at this time of year,” Cumberland said. “We’re excited to have her on board.”
Cumberland said Moesch would probably also be excited to have Fischer on board, given that Moesch had planned to retire last month. Instead, she stayed on until the district could find a replacement.
Moesch was off this week.
“She’ll find out when she gets back from vacation,” Cumberland said.
There were originally 15 applicants for Moesch’s job, which school officials narrowed to five finalists.
However, three of those finalists found other jobs before they could be interviewed, Cumberland said.
Fischer was one of the remaining two who were interviewed.
The Shawano School Board unanimously approved her hiring after a closed session discussion Monday.
Fischer’s salary will be $105,000. Moesch’s most recent salary was $102,000.