Whittington, Stevens returning to D128 as interim administrators

Two former Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 administrators are set to return this summer as interim assistant superintendents.

Jim Whittington and Michael Stevens will handle the duties now covered by Associate Superintendent Al Fleming. For the 2012-13 school year, Fleming is set to serve as assistant superintendent because of the pending retirement of Deb Larson, which is effective this summer.

Once a permanent replacement is found for Larson, Fleming will return to his role, District 128 spokeswoman Mary Todoric said.

Whittington and Stevens last worked together in District 128 as co-principals at Libertyville High. They shared that job for the 2008-09 school year, before current Principal Marina Scott was hired for that post.

Whittington’s history with the district is more storied. He was the first principal at Vernon Hills High, holding that job from 1999 to 2003.

He briefly rejoined the district as a personnel consultant in 2004, too.

A street at the school is named in his honor.

“(He) is a terrific, terrific individual who had a lot of vision for what Vernon Hills High School has become,” board member Jim Batson said. “I’m thrilled to have him back.”

Before his stint at Libertyville High, Stevens was a principal at Prospect High School in Mount Prospect.

District 128 board member Ellen Mauer, who leads the panel’s program and personnel committee, said officials couldn’t ask for better candidates for the job.

“I like the fact that we’re getting a good deal of experience,” Mauer said. “They were a fabulous team when they were here (in 2008), and we’re going to enjoy having them back on board, even if it’s just for a short time.”

The personnel committee unveiled Whittington and Stevens as the interim candidates Monday night. The District 128 board could approve the hirings next week.