Lake Zurich Dist. 95 school board appoints new member

Lake Zurich resident Scott McConnell was appointed to fill a vacancy on the local school board Thursday night.

McConnell, 39, was one of five candidates interviewed for the post on the Lake Zurich Unit District 95 board. He replaces Kathleen Wallis, who resigned in early February because of family issues.

McConnell has two children who are students at May Whitney Elementary, and his wife, Ann Marie, volunteers with the school’s parent-teacher organization. In an interview before he joined the panel Thursday, McConnell said he was looking for a way to represent the community, too.

“I think the board and administration have done an excellent job of making sure the schools of District 95 are … excellent schools, and I want to continue that tradition,” he said.

McConnell’s family was present for his swearing-in at Lake Zurich High School.

McConnell was the second person appointed to fill a vacancy this year. In January, Lisa Warren was named to the panel to replace John Kropf, who resigned in December because he moved out of the district.

Both McConnell and Warren will finish terms that end in spring 2013. They will be able to run for election to full terms at that time.

The board members discussed the applicants during a closed-door meeting Wednesday. Of the five candidates considered for the latest open seat, two also had applied to replace Kropf, officials said.

“They were all outstanding candidates,” board member Doug Goldberg said.

McConnell works for the Allstate Insurance Co. in Northbrook, and that experience was a plus for the board.

“We had a well-qualified group of candidates and it was difficult to make a final decision,” board President Kathy Brown said in a news release. “Scott’s business background and his global thought process will make him a great addition to the board.”

Additionally, Warren was named the board’s new secretary. Wallis had held that post.