New Board and New Leadership for D230

Thursday was a night of change for the District 230 school board, with a new member and new president, vice president and secretary.

Following , the new board was sworn in Thursday night. Re-elected board members and and newcomer took their oaths. The three ran as a slate.

Board member Dennis Cook did not seek re-election after eight years on the board.

"It feels strange to say 'retiring' at the age of 33," the 1996 Sandburg High School graduate said.

Although Nogal, who was until Tuesday the president of the Palos School District 118 board, is the only new face on the board, there were more shake-ups in the election of a new president, vice president and secretary. These positions were previously held by O'Sullivan, Mike Hastings and Quilty, respectively.

Board member Frank Grabowski, who has served on the board since 1999, was elected president over O'Sullivan by a 4-3 vote. Board members Carol Baker, Grabowski, Hastings and Laura Murphy voted for Grabowski; Nogal, O'Sullivan and Quilty voted for O'Sullivan.

"It's nothing against the leadership of Pat (O'Sullivan). It's nothing against the leadership of anyone here," Hastings said in his nomination of Grabowski, citing expertise and experience as the reason for his vote.

The vote that put Murphy as secretary over previous secretary Quilty was divided by the same members as the presidential vote.

Although new to the board, Nogal was elected vice president over previous vice president Hastings by a 4-3 vote. Grabowski, Nogal, O'Sullivan and Quilty voted for Nogal; Baker, Hastings and Murphy voted for Hastings.

Nogal has served on D230's Student Services Committee for five years in addition to his time as Palos 118 president.

"I think he has shown his guidance; 118 has been run very well," Quilty said of Nogal.

Grabowski said he was pleased each of the three executive positions represented a different school within the district. He lives in the Andrew High School part of the district, Nogal lives in the Stagg area and Murphy lives in Sandburg.