Another teaching vacancy in the Hiawatha School District has been filled for next school year.
Superintendent John Severin said that Andrew Eckert, originally from Effingham, has been hired as the new high school physical education teacher.
Severin says Eckert will also serve as the new high school head boys basketball coach, assistant football coach and powerlifting sponsor.
He says Eckert graduated from Benedictine College in Atchison in December and has been coaching for several years at Effingham. 
Eckert will replace Amy Bearce-Plattner as the high school PE teacher.   Bearce-Plattner will be transferring to the elementary school to fill a vacancy created by the retirement resignation of Ron Nichols.
Following a closed-door session Monday evening, the USD 415 Board of Education gave Severin permission to hire a middle school counselor after interviews are completed and to fill all the open supplemental contract vacancies.
The board also voted to extend the contract’s of the district’s three principals along with High School Assistant Principal and activities director Andrew Gaddis for another year.
In addition, the board voted to pay Mandy Kern, who has been teaching an 8th grade class, $2,693 because she has had to give up her planning time to teach the extra class.
And the USD 415 board voted to opt out of a class action lawsuit against the state seeking to recover equalization aid for capital outlay for fiscal years 2009 through 2012.
As a result, the school district will not be entitled to share in the proceeds if the lawsuit is successful.