Mundelein High administrators get new offices in space shuffle
Mundelein High School students and teachers looking for District 120 Superintendent Kevin Myers this year won't find him in the first-floor office he's occupied since joining the staff in 2014.
Myers, executive administrative assistant Ana Ortiz and seven other employees have relocated to the school annex, a former church building on the west side of the Hawley Street campus.
The moves, Myers said, will help create a distinction between the school and the district.
"That concept is always hard to carry out in single-school districts, as most people don't see that there is a difference between the principal and superintendent," Myers said.
The offices Myers and the others left haven't been abandoned. They've been turned over to different administrators or repurposed.
For example, Principal Anthony Kroll now works in Myers' old office. Kroll said it feels odd to be the occupant of an office he's visited so often in his long career at Mundelein High.
"There were many meetings with past administrators who I considered mentors in this space," Kroll said. "Kevin left behind a couple professional books on leadership with several dog-eared pages. I doubt there was a message for me to receive, but I will say after a quick review, it just reaffirmed we are like-minded in our beliefs."
New Assistant Principal Michael Pope has moved into Kroll's former space.
School spokesman Ron Girard has offices in both the annex and the main building, as does new human resources Director Shane McCreery.
The 2018-19 school year started Aug. 13.
The District 120 board bought the Kirk of the Lakes Presbyterian Church property at 1500 W. Hawley St. in 2016. Mundelein High initially used the site for dance and cheerleading practices and for staff parking.
Administrators started relocating in the spring, when the business office team packed up and moved into the annex.
The previous business office has since been turned into space for a transition program for special education students who can stay in high school until they turn 21.
"The center has its own entrance (and) signage ... so these students feel like they are in a more adult environment." Girard said.
Additionally, school board meetings will be held at the annex rather than in the main building starting Sept. 11.
Dance and cheerleading practices will continue at the annex, as they're in a gymnasium that's separate from the office space.