Ozark superintendent’s contract extended

Photo provided by Ozark R-6 School District

Chris Bauman’s contract is extended through the 2022-23 academic year.

The Ozark R-6 School District Board of Education unanimously voted to extend Superintendent Chris Bauman’s contract.

The district’s superintendent since July 2018, Bauman is on board through the 2022-23 academic year with the latest extension, according to a news release. A year ago, the board unanimously voted to extend his contract through the 2021-22 academic year.

“Dr. Bauman has already helped the district streamline processes to better focus on addressing the needs of our students. He has also overseen the development of the district's long-range plan that will positively affect every student in the district and change the way our students learn and prepare for their futures,” board President Jeff Laney said in the release. “The board extended Dr. Bauman's contract to show that we are as committed to him as he has been to the students, staff and families of Ozark schools.”

The board approved the latest contract extension at its Jan. 16 meeting.

Bauman’s annual salary is $162,400, according to the release. That’s up slightly from a year ago, when his salary was $160,000, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

In 2018, Bauman succeeded Kevin Patterson, who became director of graduate education at Southwest Baptist University. Prior to becoming superintendent, Bauman served as the district’s executive director of operations.