GLENWOOD | The search for a new Brookwood Elementary District 167 superintendent will begin soon, following the announcement Monday that Superintendent Pamela Hollich is leaving.
"At the end of this school year, I'm retiring," Hollich told The Times at Monday's board meeting.
The School Board on Monday approved paying the Illinois Association of School Boards an amount not to exceed $12,000 to find a new leader for the district.
Hollich is completing her 38th year in education and eighth year as D.167 superintendent.
Improved test scores, increased parental involvement and building improvements at all district schools all took place during her tenure, Hollich said.
Voters last week approved a referendum that allows the district to build a new middle school.
Hollich expects the groundbreaking for the school to occur in about a year.
"I think we have a year's worth of planning to do and making sure it's exactly what we want," Hollich said.
The new middle school is scheduled to open in fall 2015.
Board President Melinda Plott said whoever is chosen as the next superintendent will ideally have experience in building a school.
"We need someone to be able to pick up right where (Hollich) left off," Plott said.
Monday marked the first board meeting since the middle school referendum was approved, and Plott thanked those who worked for the cause.
"It's just a wonderful, wonderful accomplishment," Plott said. "Sixty-eight percent of those voting said yes, they agree that we should go forward."
In other district news, the board approved a proposed aggregate 2012 tax levy in the amount of $7,003,400.
District Business Manager Andrew Ziegler said the proposed levy represents a 4.9 percent increase over last year.
The final tax levy will not be approved by the board until December.
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