Shifting administrators at high schools in Fox Lake and Antioch

It’ll be a shifting sea of administrators between Grant High School District 124 in Fox Lake and Antioch High School District 117 in Antioch.

Christie Sefcik, former assistant superintendent of Grant High School District 124, will take over as superintendent of the Fox Lake high school district after superintendent John Benedetti retires at the end of the year.

And, her first semiofficial action took place earlier this week when she replaced outgoing Grant High School interim-principal John Barbini with former Antioch High School co-Superintendent Jim McKay.

Sefcik, who officially doesn’t take over from Benedetti until June 30, made the announcement Wednesday afternoon.

McKay told officials of Antioch High School earlier this month that he would be stepping down as co-Superintendent on June 30 and join Grant High School as principal, Sefcik said. He will officially take over for Barbini on July 1.

Barbini stepped out of retirement on a part-time basis to take over as principal of Grant High School in July of 2010. He joined Grant after serving for more than a decade as superintendent at Wauconda Unit School District 118.

However, due to Barbini’s retirement status, he was only allowed to serve as high school principal for 100 days a year. He will once again enter retirement on June 30.

“Sometimes, you need to get away from a job to find out you really liked it,” McKay said Wednesday. “Being the high school leader of teachers and students is really appealing to me. I wanted to get back to operating a building more than operating as a co-superintendent.”

Antioch High School board officials are meeting in the next month to determine if they would replace McKay, or transfer McKay’s job duties onto Antioch’s other superintendent, Mike Nekritz.

McKay officially served as co-superintendent at Antioch High School for two years. He also served in the district as principal, assistant principal, and a faculty member.

Sefcik said McKay was chosen after a thorough interview process in which other candidates were considered for the position.

“Throughout the interviews and reference checks, Mr. McKay stood out as having integrity, intelligence, experience, the respect of his constituents and a passion for working with students and staff,” Sefcik said.

McKay will work with Barbini over the next several months to ensure a smooth transition, Sefcik said.