Schwerman to leave District 70 board
Longtime Libertyville Elementary District 70 school board member Joy Schwerman will step down in July, saying her election promise to help settle in a new superintendent has gone exceedingly well.
“I feel I have done what I wanted to do when I ran two years ago, and that was to get Dr. Guy Schumacher on board and make sure the continuity and consistency was there to support his leadership,” Schwerman said during a special board meeting.
“He’s well on his way and has done a great job in the last two years. I’m very happy about that,” she added.
The school board election in April 2009 was hotly contested as 11 candidates vied for four, 4-year term seats. Schwerman ran on a pledge to help usher in Schumacher to the top post after being principal at Butterfield School for several years.
Schwerman, who is in the middle of her fifth 4-year term, also said she wanted to step down to avoid any conflict of interest when her son-in-law, Lorenzo Cervantes, is hired in July to be the new dean of students at Highland Middle School.
“Lorenzo is my son-in-law and he doesn’t want his mother-in-law looking over his shoulder,” Schwerman added. “This is Lorenzo’s time in District 70. And it’s time for me to move on. It’s been 18 years; it’s time.”
Schumacher noted he saw Cervantes’ potential early on, adding, “he earned his position, he is a rising star. I certainly understand the relationship and know that this is a difficult but necessary decision.”
Board President Maryann Ovassapian said she appreciated Schwerman’s historical view on topics, and that she was known for her positive and encouraging stance during her tenure.
“You always brought a lot to the table,” she told Schwerman.
Schwerman is a well-known family name in Libertyville, often linked to the schools as family members worked, taught and attended the school system. Schwerman and her husband, Scott, raised three children in town and they attended Rockland and Highland middle schools.
A human resource director, Schwerman served as the school board’s finance committee chairwoman for many years.
Schwerman will step down at the July 25 meeting. District 70 is checking with the Lake County Clerk’s office on what needs to be done to fill the board position.