This Spring, the Board of Education appointed several people new positions in order to continue providing District 219 the best options. Starting March 1, 2016, John Pahlman will take on the responsibilities of the Director of Operations and Amy Walker as Purchasing Agent. Steve Griesbach was also appointed the second Interim Superintendent, as Mark Friedman and Griesbach will be working together to fulfill the duties of a Superintendent, until one is appointed this Summer.
Pahlman has much experience and will bring a wide variety of knowledge to maintain D219’s policies in the most efficient ways. In the past he served as the Director of Maintenance and Operations for School District 62 in Des Plaines. As Director of Operations at D219, Pahlman will have the duties of assisting the Superintendents and the Business of Operations in enforcing the Board of Education’s policies and goals for the district throughout the next few months.
“Illinois Teaches Retirement System rules restrict retired superintendents from working for than 500 hours to 100 days in a given year. Since Fridman has already used some of his time working for other districts earlier in the year, Griesbach’s appointment will allow the district to have someone in the leadership position each day. Friedman will serve as the lead Interim Superintendent,” Jim Szczepaniak, Director of Community Relations, said.
Friedman and Griesbach will be able to accomplish more with the both of them working together as Interim Superintendents. Following graduating from Northwestern, Griesbach taught history and social sciences at Evanston Township High School for a decade. Griesbach wants to grow instructional programs and study more about how students academic performance can improve. Friedman has much experience being Superintendent, therefore he was originally appointed the only Interim Superintendent.
D219 will continue to improve the district’s excellent student performance and create new projects to help everything move smoothly throughout these times of transition.
