The Duneland School Board has decided that their best candidate to fill the vacant superintendent’s job is already on staff, so they are extending an offer to Assistant Superintendent Robert McDermott.
The announcement was made Friday in a news release from Duneland School Board President Brandon Kroft.
McDermott said that the details of the contract and statutory requirements need to be settled. He said he hopes everything can be wrapped up by the end of March.
Duneland Superintendent Chip Pettit announced on Jan. 29 that he would be leaving the district in June to take a superintendent’s position with Hinsdale Township High School District 86 in Illinois.
When Duneland hired Pettit from the Crown Point Community School Corporation in 2019, McDermott also came over from Crown Point to become his assistant.
McDermott, 55, has more than 30 years experience as an educator. McDermott has worked in a number of school districts, serving as a director of personnel and labor relations, high school principal, director of student services and school safety, and a classroom teacher. He also served 10 years with the U.S. Air Force.
Shortly after Pettit made his announcement, McDermott said he had discussions with board members.
“Was I interested and was it the right fit? And we both landed on it was a good fit,” McDermott said.
Kroft said the appointment of McDermott made sense.
“At a time when stability and continuity matter and after careful consideration, the board believes Mr. McDermott’s appointment will allow the corporation to stay focused on initiatives that are already delivering quality results for our students,” Kroft said in the release.
The board also won’t have to go through the process of doing an open search. Kroft said the board consulted with the Indiana School Board Association before making their decision.
“The Duneland community could not ask for a better candidate than Robert McDermott to lead our schools as the next superintendent. On behalf of the entire School Board, I am excited for this next chapter in the 57-year history of the Duneland School Corporation,” Kroft said.
During his tenure as assistant superintendent, McDermott is probably best known for his work on enhancing security measures for the Duneland Schools.
More Top Picks Best Thermal Bento Jars
McDermott has been in charge of coming up with emergency evacuation plans. On one occasion, he conducted an elaborate practice emergency evacuation drill at the Yost Elementary School, where students were transported off-site, where reunification with family took place.
Duneland also has hired more school resource officers, as there are six Chesterton Police officers who work in the district’s eight buildings.
When he was in the Air Force, McDermott was a military police officer. He said that his past assignments in other school districts have involved working on safety issues, and it’s something he enjoys doing.
McDermott is married and has four children and one grandchild. He said he will soon be moving to Chesterton from St. John.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.