Rauner picks District 214 administrator to lead community college board

Northwest Suburban High School District 214 Associate Superintendent Lazaro Lopez was named chairman of the Illinois Community College Board by Gov. Bruce Rauner Friday.

Lopez, of Hoffman Estates, takes over for Alexi Giannoulias, a former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and former Illinois treasurer.

Previously, Lopez was principal of Wheeling High School, where he helped spearhead the development of a curriculum based on science and technology.

The appointment comes at a time when College of DuPage is under fire for a severance package given to President Robert Breuder. Rauner has largely spared community colleges from the budget cuts he's proposed for state universities, but that proposal is far from becoming law.

Rauner spokesman Lance Trover declined further comment about the appointment.