District 124 Welcomes New Superintendent

After more than five months of interviewing candidates, District 124 has hired its next superintendent.

Robert Machak, currently the superintendent of Emmons School District 33 in Antioch will officially take his seat on July 1, replacing

"We think he's going to make a fabulous addition to our district," said board president Kathleen Rohan at Wednesday's school board meeting.

District 124 board of education unanimously voted to hire Machak at the meeting, which he was unable to attend according to school officials, however board member Beth Amado voted "no" to his 3-year contract.

"It's in no way a reflection on how I think he is," she explained. "I have my own concerns in terms of what the current financial environment is and the impact on taxpayers and people in the district," said Amado.

Amado has consistently voted in line with stricter spending standards for the district. That's what kept her from voting "yes," she said.

Machak assisted District 124 in interviewing its new executive director of business services, Cody said Wednesday. The current executive director, Fran LaBella, will take on a new position outside of the district after this school year.

District 124 board used a candidate profile developed by the community and its staff "to find an experienced teacher, cooperative leader, relationship-builder and advocate for kids."

During his four years at Emmons School District 33, Machak helped increase the percentage of students that met or exceeded state ISAT standards in math, reading and writing. Machak's current district earned the 2011 Illinois' School of Academic Excellence Award under his leadership. During his short time with the district, the school was taken off the state's financial watch list and moved to recognition status.

A 23-year education veteran, Machak start his career as an English teacher in Des Plaines and at Mundelein High School where he was also the Freshman Baseball coach and director of Adult Education programs. After receiving his graduate degree in 1997, he became a junior high school assistant principal in Hawthorn District 73. Later, under his leadership as principal of Field Middle School in Northbrook for nine years, the school received the National Blue Ribbon Award for Academic Excellence, and was designated a National School to Watch by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. In 2005, Machak earned his doctoral degree from National-Louis University.

According to Rohan, Machak's first order of business will probably be to get to know everyone in the district.