Central School Principal Announces Resignation

Principal Gina Rodewald has submitted her resignation from to accept a new position at a Willowbrook elementary school this fall.

Rodewald, who has served in District 113A for 14 years, informed faculty and staff last week that she had accepted the principal position at Gower West Elementary School in Gower School District 62.

The hire was formally approved Tuesday night by the District 62 Board of Education, Rodewald said.

"I knew that my role (in District 113A) would be changing, though I wasn't completely sure because we haven't settled on any scenario," she said. "This was an opportunity for me to look into other possibilities. I do love it here, though, so it was a very difficult decision for me to decide to look elsewhere."

Due to the unsuccessful $20 million referendum April 5, District 113A is expected to make another $670,000 in cuts for the 2011-2012 school year — a step outlined in its state-approved financial plan. Among the proposed cuts is the , which would save the district approximately $356,747 next year.

During the Feb. 14 meeting of the District 113A Board of Education, administrators presented board members with a reorganization study, which outlined several scenarios for facility use in the upcoming school year.

With an unsuccessful referendum, the report outlined two scenarios — both of which involved the closing of Central School.

Though the majority of the board agreed that the district would need to close Central, the measure will not be formally discussed or voted on until after the four recently-elected board members are seated May 2.

District 113A Superintendent Tim Ricker said no decisions have been finalized, and that the administration was moving forward with parallel planning to prepare for all possible scenarios in the upcoming school year.

"We will wait to see what happens with the new board," he said. "There are no assumptions being made. The new board will need to talk about what their vision is for reorganization of district, and then decide if Central School is part of that vision."

Ricker wished Rodewald well in her new position at Gower Elementary.

"She's one of our strongest leaders," he said. "We're sure going to miss her."

Rodewald came to District 113A in 1997 as the assistant principal of Oakwood School. She was appointed as principal in 2000 after then-principal Mary Gricus became an assistant superintendent in the district.

In 2001, Rodewald became the principal of Central School — a position she said has brought her invaluable experiences and relationships over the past nine years.

"The years I've been at Central have been wonderful," she said. "These are great kids, and I've appreciated parents sharing them with me. The chance I've had to be part of their lives and the support I have received from parents and community members has been tremendous.

"The Central School staff is like my family, and I will miss them dearly. We're all going to be in new situations next year, and I'm sure we will still be in contact as we make these transitions together."