Dorothy Weber spent Friday fielding the numerous phone calls of support, arranging the dozens of cards and floral bouquets around her office and adapting to her new position as superintendent of Arlington Heights School District 25.
Weber, who has served as interim superintendent since September when Daniel Keck resigned, was hired by the school board Thursday.
”I`m feeling lots of support and lots of warm feelings about what we all can do together as a district,” said Weber, 44, who has worked in the district since 1986.
Weber, who will be paid $87,000 a year, was awarded a three-year contract by the district, which has about 4,000 students in its 11 elementary and junior high schools.
Though Weber was appointed by a unanimous vote, at least one school board member had reservations about making such a decision without first seeking candidates from outside the district.
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”If the board will not spend the time and money to do a search, then I question why they ran for the board,” Charles Williams said.
An outside search would have enhanced the credibility of the superintendent search as well as guaranteed the best possible candidate for the job, Williams said.
He stressed, however, that his disappointment with the lack of an outside search didn`t mean he was dissatisfied with the choice of Weber as superintendent, and said he would fully support her.
Before Weber`s approval, Williams made a motion to hire an outside firm to conduct a superintendent search. That motion failed on a 5-2 vote.
Board President Richard Hendricks said Weber had all the qualifications and qualities desired in a new superintendent and was already familiar with and committed to the district.
”If she hadn`t been such a strong candidate, it would have been easy to do an outside search,” Hendricks said.
Parents and teachers in the audience appeared to largely support Weber as their new superintendent and gave her a standing ovation when her appointment was approved.
With District 25 undergoing new construction, hiring new principals and implementing new programs, a dedicated administrator already familiar with the district was needed, parent Betsy Eberling said.
”I feel that we need someone who`s going to start these programs now,”
Eberling said. ”These are decisions that have to be made now.”
Weber came to the district in 1986 as principal of Patton Elementary School. In 1989, she was appointed director of curriculum and instruction for the district and served in that position until becoming interim superintendent.
”I`m very eager and feel very fortunate to work in this position with the district,” Weber said.