Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Charles Vitton, Mokena School District 159 assistant supt. of curriculum, resigns to join outgoing Supt. Steve Stein in Peotone.
Mokena School District 159 Asst. Supt. of Curriculum resigned his position, effective July 1. After serving nearly 20 years in Mokena, Charles Vitton told the MSD159 Board of Education on April 17 that he was moving on to join outgoing Supt. Steve Stein at Peotone Community Unit School District 207U. His role there will be similar. His position specifically is director of curriculum and technology. He signed a three-year contract. Stein said it's not unusual for administrators that work closely together to move on together. Speaking of Vitton, he said they have a good working relationship and their educational philosophy is in-sync. "Change can be good," said Stein. This gives M159's incoming superintendent, Omar Castillo, a chance to hire…
Friday, January 4, 2013
The board determined the executive search firm that will assist in the selection process at a meeting Thursday.
The Mokena School District 159 board of education held a special meeting Jan. 3 to discuss the specifics of the search for a new district superintendent. Current Superintendent Steve Stein announced his resignation on Nov. 20. He will leave the district at the end of June. The board voted Thursday to approve the bid for B.W.P. and Associates to serve as the executive search firm throughout the superintendent selection process. “The search firm acts as a facilitator,” said Board Member Katherine Moore. The board selected B.W.P. because of its previous experience serving schools in the area, including districts in Orland Park, Tinley Park and Oak Lawn. B.W.P. was one of five firms considered by the board. Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates …
Monday, December 10, 2012
Mokena School District 159 Board of Education wants an outside firm to head-up the search for a new superintendent. The sticking point for the board is whether or not the whole board or a committee has oversight of the process.
The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education met Dec. 5 to discuss the process of selecting the right search firm to do the leg work in regard to the selection of a new superintendent. The outgoing superintendent, Steve Stein, announced his resignation on Nov. 20. According to a Dec. 6 SunTimes Media story, board members during a Committee of the Whole meeting disagreed over the two-man committee appointed by Board President Patrick Markham who asked the board to approve up to $15,000 to pay for the search. Read more by clicking here. Readers might like: D159 Superintendent: Resignation Is 'Bittersweet' Want more District 159 news, delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our breaking news alerts and daily email newsletter.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Chris Vaughn, a student death, an oil leak and the resignation of District 159's superintendent were all hot topics for Mokena in November.
Here’s a recap of the posts that generated the most interest on Mokena Patch in November. Did you catch all of them? Click on the headlines below to read the full story. Blame it on Drew Peterson, Says Killer Chris Vaughn's Lawyer First, he killed one wife, then he was named a suspect in the disappearance of another, and now Drew Peterson's very existence has mucked up Christopher Vaughn's murder trial, the Oswego man's lawyer said Monday ... for more, click here. Student's Arrest Tied to Friend's Overdose Death at Lewis: Cops A 20-year-old Frankfort woman died of a drug overdose while at a Lewis University dorm this weekend, and the friend with whom she was staying has been arrested for trying to conceal her role in the death, Romeoville…
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Mokena School District Superintendent Steve Stein, on the job for just over a year and a half, submitted his letter of resignation Nov. 20, effective June 30, 2013. He will move on to become superintendent of Peotone Community School District 207U.
Mokena School District 159 Superintendent Steve Stein will leave the district in June 2013, after less than two years on the job. Stein announced his resignation Tuesday, Nov. 20, in a letter addressed to Patrick Markham and the rest of the D159 Board of Education. But the board had also been notified previously. “It will probably be a blast for the community members who aren't as directly connected with the school," Stein said. Stein was named interim Superintendent in August 2011 after the reassignment of former Superintendent Karen Perry. "It's been very humbling, a lot of people saying many many kind things about me and my time here. Anything like this is very, very bitter sweet," Stein said. "I have a very good working relationship …
Friday, August 10, 2012
The search for a new Business Manager in the Mokena Public School District 159 continues after former Business Manager Kirt Hendrick resigned at the end of July.
As the Mokena School District 159 Board of Education prepares to interview candidates for the vacant board seat during a closed session on Saturday, Aug. 11, administrators also continue another search—for a new district business manager. The seat remains vacant after former Business Manager Kirt Hendrick abruptly resigned at the end of July. District Superintendent Steve Stein and board members are currently conducting a search for a fulltime replacement for Hendrick. They hope to fill the role by September. “We haven't had any interviews yet, the board is still looking through applications,” Stein said. “We haven't been overwhelmed by [the number of] applications, but we've gotten quite a few.” Stein said that the job opening was posted …
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Mokena District 159 has made progress on inching closer to the black—but still has a ways to go.
Mokena School District 159 is inching closer to being in the black, after frugal spending within the District in 2012. The district posted a $110,000 deficit—a significant improvement on the $1 million deficit in the previous fiscal year. District Superintendent Steve Stein said several factors contributed to the shrinking deficit, including: “We did solve our issues with the teacher's contract and the teachers did agree to a freeze, that certainly was a big part of helping to put us on that path,” Stein said, adding, “I think there was still a ratcheting down by staff, at all levels, to not spend money. I think there are a number of things that go into [the lower deficit.]” He also added that unlike in previous years, there was no …
Friday, July 13, 2012
Kirt Hendrick, Director of Business Operations in Mokena School District 159, tendered his resignation, effective at the end of July.
District 159 Director of Businress Operations Kirt Hendrick has resigned, after just more than a year on the job. Hendrick's resignation takes effect at the end of July. "Due to personal and professional reasons I have submitted my resignation as the Director of Business Operations," Hendrick wrote in a press release. "It was a privilege to serve the Mokena 159 students and community as a member of staff and administrators." Hendrick announced his resignation during a special board meeting July 11. Board members Scott Peters and Mike Ford were dismayed at the news, but wished Hendrick the best in his future. District Superintendent Steve Stein said that Hendrick did not resign to take another position. The board later went into closed …
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Rebecca Rodey, who taught previously in District 159 from 2008-2011, was rehired as a full-time music teacher at MJHS July 11.
The sounds of music will fill the halls of Mokena Junior High School once more, after a "new" hire by the Mokena School District 159 Board of Education. Rebecca Rodey will pick up where two recently resigned music teachers left off, as music teacher at MJHS. It won't be the first time Rodey walks the halls, though; she taught at the school from 2008–2011, and helped organize the district's music curriculum. Board members approved the hire at a special meeting July 11. “She's going to be MJHS, she's not going to be split [between schools,],” said District Superintendent Steve Stein. “We're fortunate to be able to [bring her back.] Rehiring Rodey was a major plus for the district, Stein said. “You have somebody coming in who knows most of …
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Mokena Elementary School
11244 Willow Crest Ln, Mokena, IL
/articles/d159-rehires-former-music-teacher-fills-one-of-three-music-department-jobs
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Thursday, June 14, 2012
Less than a month after the resignation of Jessica Maffia, music teacher Jennifer Thomas also resigns, leaving District 159's music program without any teachers.
The music in Mokena School District 159 has stopped. Following the resignation of former music program teacher Jessica Maffia in May, the other half of the music department in the district, Jennifer Thomas, has also resigned. The departure of the two teachers leaves D159 without any teachers in the music department. Thomas and Maffia were responsible for all band, choir and music classes in the district, traveling between buildings throughout the day to complete their schedules. Superintendent Steve Stein said that Thomas' resignation was not a surprise, and that she is leaving to pursue a doctorate in music education. “She's planning on going back to school for [music education] and earning a doctorate, and ultimately teaching at the …
41.531945
-87.890205
Mokena Elementary School
11244 Willow Crest Ln, Mokena, IL
/articles/mokena-d159-music-program-muted
1374295
/locations/7205720
William R. Walsh
3:51 pm on Wednesday, April 24, 2013
We have Principals at evey school. They are, in effect, asst. Supts. The Supt. is really only a tie-breaker, or an abritrator, in any dispute or decision. With modern telecommunications no one is far from the "office." We don't need an asst. Supt. Bill Walsh more ›