Grass Lake District 36 has a new superintendent
Grass Lake Elementary District 36 has a new leader, school officials said.
The school board voted unanimously Tuesday to hire William Newby as superintendent at the small Antioch-area school district. The district is home to Grass Lake School, with approximately 200 students and 40 staff members.
Newby will leave his job as deputy superintendent in Waukegan Unit District 60 to lead District 36 on Oct. 2, officials said.
"We are extremely excited to have Dr. Newby join our wonderful district," District 36 school board president John Frendreis said in a news release. "His experience, skill set and personality will fit nicely with the direction we are going in Grass Lake."
In 2015, Newby graduated with a doctorate of education from National Louis University. He has worked at District 60 for 17 years.
Newby will replace interim superintendent Joe Bailey, who was hired after the district parted ways with longtime superintendent Terry O'Brien.
O'Brien's resignation June 30 was announced as an "amicable separation." It came after voters swept four incumbents off the school board in the April 4 election.
Frendreis, along with fellow challengers Andrew Williams, Susanne Tauke and Russell Page ousted incumbents Cynthia Collins, Deborah Fogel, Susan Kozenski and Ron Lobodzinski. Collins served as the school board president and Fogel the vice president.
O'Brien was hired as the district's superintendent in 2005, after previously serving as director of student services at Richmond-Burton Community High School in McHenry County.