New administrators to start in District 95
Lake Zurich Unit District 95 administration will look substantially different next week, with a new superintendent and two new assistant superintendents starting July 1.
This change in staffing comes at a time when the district is wrestling with budget cuts that affect each of its schools.
Mike Egan, who has been with the district for 14 years and is currently the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, will take over as superintendent for the retiring Brian Knutson. Jodi Wirt comes in from Naperville Unit District 203 to fill Egan's position. Jeff King will be the new assistant superintendent for business and operations, succeeding Mary Kalou, who is taking a similar position in Maine Township High School District 207.
Wirt and King each come from similar positions in their districts to the ones they will hold in District 95.
"They both come with central office experience," Egan said. "Jeff King has worked in the second largest school district in Illinois. They're not coming in as complete rookies, they've had a lot of experience."
The majority of the work on next year's budget will be finished by the current administration, although it will not be finalized until September.
Wirt said Egan has kept her updated on the district's doings. Egan said King has met with Kalou and he has an understanding of what the district wants to do with this budget and in the future.
At its Thursday night meeting, the school board is expected to approve a tentative budget. Officials already committed to reinstating some programs slated to be cut because of a combination of community fundraising and additional revenue.
Wirt is glad the board committed to buying new textbooks for next year.
"That's something that I had experienced the long-term consequences of," she said. "Eventually, once you start delaying certain purchases it can be difficult to catch up."
District 95 officials have been looking to cut $4 million from next year's budget to make up for an expected shortfall in revenue. The consumer price index, which determines the increase in the property tax levy the district can request, dropped from 4.1 percent to 0.1 percent, creating the gap.