Dr. Valerie McDonald will continue to be the superintendent of the Avonworth District until 2012, despite plans to retire at the end of the current school year.

The district’s school board voted Tuesday to extend McDonald’s contract for one additional year. The board, at last month’s meeting, approved a 3 percent salary increase for the superintendent.

Set to expire on June 30, 2011, McDonald’s contract has been extended through June 30, 2012.

Board member Marybeth Sommers opposed the extension because it would mean bringing in a new superintendent right in the middle of the primary center construction project. The new school is expected to be built and open by the fall of 2013. Sommers said that she would prefer that a new superintendent be in place before the construction begins.

Board member Jeff Schmid also voted against extending the superintendent’s contract.