Allen Cochran, assistant superintendent for the Union Township School Corporation, is returning to the Duneland School Corporation to become its chief financial officer.
The Duneland School Board Monday announced the hiring of Cochran.
Cochran will replace Lynn Kwilasz, assistant superintendent and chief financial officer, who will retire at the end of October from the Duneland School Corporation. Kwilasz has served 13 years on the job.
This is the time of year when a chief financial officer for a school district prepares the budget for the next year. Cochran, as assistant superintendent for Union Township, acted as that district’s chief financial officer.
Duneland School Superintendent Robert McDermott said that Cochran starts with Duneland on Sept. 1 and will work alongside Kwilasz a few days per week to start the transition. McDermott said that Cochran will have responsibilities with his current district until they hire a replacement.
Cochran previously worked for the Duneland School Corporation for a number of years, starting as a teacher and eventually becoming an assistant principal at Chesterton High School. He left Duneland three years ago to join the administrative staff for the Union Township School Corporation.
“Thank you for this wonderful privilege. It’s always great to have a chance to come home,” Cochran said. He said that he has “big shoes to fill” in replacing Kwilasz.
The school board also announced the hiring of Brittney Krieg as the new assistant principal at Westchester Intermediate School.
Krieg is coming over from School City of Hobart, where she was the dean of students at their Liberty Elementary School.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.