District 113A Appoints Robert Madonia as Interim Superintendent

The Board of Education has appointed longtime educator Robert Madonia to serve as interim superintendent.

Madonia's contract was unanimously approved by board members during their business meeting Tuesday night. He'll serve on a part-time basis through June 30.

Board President Mike Aurelio said Madonia was the top choice of every District 113A board member after they interviewed six candidates for the position.

"I truly appreciate the board's vote of confidence," Madonia said shortly after his appointment. "I'm looking forward to coming here and working with the school district to enhance the successful things we have done ... and to work together as a team to move the district forward in a positive direction."

According to a Frankfort Station report, which was written by current Oak Forest Patch Editor Lauren Traut, Madonia retired in June 2009 as superintendent of Frankfort School District 157C, where he served for seven years.

Before working in Frankfort, Madonia worked for 16 years in suburban Cook County, where he served as the Superintendent of Komarek School District 94 in North Riverside, according to the Frankfort Station. 

Madonia's appointment comes one month after .

Since Ricker's official departure Dec. 31, District 113A has been under the direction of Assistant Superintendent Mary Gricus and the district's administrative team.

During a special meeting Jan. 11, the board voted unanimously through the remainder of the 2011-12 school year. Gricus will take the lead on the days the interim superintendent is not working, likely two or three days a week. 

Wright said the board agreed to pay Gricus a per diem rate of $330—the same rate she received when she took on the same role in 2005.

Details on Madonia's compensation were not immediately available.

District 113A Board Member and spokeswoman Lisa Wright said more information on Madonia's appointment would be available after Tuesday's board meeting.