West Chicago District 94 hires new superintendent

The superintendent of a Wisconsin school system is returning to Illinois to take the reins of West Chicago High School District 94, officials announced Friday.

Douglas Domeracki starts July 1 and succeeds retiring schools chief Lalo Ponce, who led District 94 for four years.

“His proven relationship-building experience and focus on student achievement make him an excellent candidate for this position, and we trust that Dr. Domeracki will lead our district forward in achieving the vision we all share for our students,” school board President Katherine Doremus said in a statement.

Domeracki has been superintendent at the Cuba City, Wis., School District since 2009. Before that, he held administrative posts at Warren Township High School near Gurnee, Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Grayslake Community High School and McHenry High School, officials said.

He also has worked as a science teacher, gifted-program coordinator and coach of tennis, wrestling and track at Thornton-Fractional South High School in Lansing, Ill., and Lemont High School.

District officials described Domeracki as an “excellent communicator and lifelong educator” with experience in all aspects of school administration, from buildings and grounds to union negotiations and financial management. The base salary of his five-year contract will be $166,500 with annual raises of 2 percent.

Domeracki has a doctorate in education leadership from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb; a master’s in education from Governors State University in University Park; and a bachelor’s in biology from Western Illinois University in Macomb.

“I look forward to working with the District 94 community and am very excited to be appointed to the position of superintendent,” he said.

The school board approved Domeracki’s contract Monday. A welcome reception is being planned for the spring.