Rooney serves as Arlington Heights principal for the day

Newly sworn state Sen. Tom Rooney is gearing up for the rough and tumble world of Springfield politics.

What better way to prepare than presiding over a grade school?

Rooney, who's also still serving as Rolling Meadows' mayor, acted as principal for the day Tuesday at Olive-Stitt Elementary School in Arlington Heights.

Among his duties were greeting students as they arrived for classes, leading the school in the Pledge of Allegiance, taking part in a student discussion on elections and politics, and helping out with a physical education class.

Rooney was sworn in last month to fill the 27th Senate District seat left vacant by the Sept. 15 resignation of Matt Murphy, a Palatine Republican who left the state legislature to work with Mac Strategies Group, a public affairs and lobbying firm. The 27th District includes parts of Arlington Heights, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Inverness, Palatine, Wheeling, Prospect Heights and South Barrington.