As they recognized retiring staff members at their meeting May 23, Yorkville School District 115 Board members hired one of them back as a consultant.
Brian DeBolt, the district building and grounds director since 1992, was one of six retirees presented with rocking chairs in thanks for his service, but he won't be able to rest in it full-time yet.
After approving a job description for the position of consultant for facility operations, DeBolt was hired for the job for no more than 599 hours at $88 per hour.
According to the job description, the consultant will provide historic perspective of the operations of the Building and Grounds Department to the district's chief operating officer and to the new director of facility operations, and introduce them to all key partners supporting the department. The consultant will also support the oversight and direction for all facility improvements using outside contractors and services.
DeBolt has served as the district's construction manager during the building of new elementary schools and during the construction and renovation at the high school.
Other retirees presented with rocking chairs Monday were: Laurie Bridge, teacher and gifted resource director for 35 years; Karen Gottschalk, special education teacher for 22 years; Claire Hurd, special education teacher for 22 years; Janet Strukel, teacher and district instructional technology specialist for 42 years; Dave Taylor, Bristol Bay Elementary School principal, who worked in the district for 14 years.
Also recognized was Ron Pieper, director of the Indian Valley Vocational Center after 39 years there.
Superintendent Tim Shimp pointed out their service totalled 199 years.
Two new administrators were among those hired May 23.
Dr. Nicholas Baughman will be the chief academic officer, replacing Director of Teaching and Learning Kelley Gallt, who is taking a job in Community Consolidated School District 181 in Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills. His job title reflects changes in the administrative organizational structure that take effect July 1.
Baughman has been with the West Aurora School District since 2008 and has been its director of elementary teaching and learning. He graduated magna cum laude from Southern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. He also has a master's in educational leadership from Concordia University and a doctorate in education from Aurora University.
Amy Murillo will be the assistant principal for talent development and student engagement at Yorkville High School. An employee of Oswego School District 308 since 2004, she has been the World Languages Department chair at Oswego High School since 2012.
She has a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a master's in educational leadership from the University of St. Francis. She is also currently enrolled in a doctoral program with Lewis University.
Baughman's salary was set at $132,000 and Murillo's at $81,600. Both will also receive administrative benefits.
The board also hired Amy Bernhard and Jessica Peck as Yorkville High School math teachers; Allison Assell, Heather Kozon and Deborah Halstead as paraprofessionals at Autumn Creek Elementary School; Megan Yahle as a school psychologist; Jacob Oster as head YHS wrestling coach and Joe Fornell as assistant wrestling coach; Jessica Peck as winter cheerleading coach at YHS; Keith Gardner as assistant YHS boys' basketball coach; Amy Bernhard as assistant YHS girls' volleyball coach; Caitlin Graff as fall cheerleading coach at YHS; and Layna Heubel as fall and winter poms coach at YHS.
Three teachers who had been released as part of a reduction in force were rehired to replace others who will be on leave next year or who have resigned. Those recalled were Andrea Bornemann, Chris Crunk and Julie Page.
With the dissolution of the Kendall County Special Education Cooperative on June 30, the board transferred in 30 special education teachers and three therapists as district employees.
They are speech therapists Christine McFarlane and Allison Veltman; music therapist Sondra Shatters; and special education teachers Vanessa Baier, Kristin Banks, Michellie Brandon, Stephanie Coit, Lisa Deaville, Connie Dunn, Brian Erjavec, Susan Farren, Melissa Feitlich, Caitlin Graff, Molly Houlihan, Steven Howland, Sarah Hudson, Karen Maldonado, Julia Margolis, Amy McMahill, Kristin Melick, Sheryl Mitchell, Jennifer Paletta, Julie Pehlke, Nathan Rahn, Kelsey Renner, Kari Robledo, Catherine Roller, Allison Sagen, Robin Shirley, Alice Strobel, Anna Toth, Patricia White and Donna Williams.
Occupational therapist Cheryl Klebenow and physical therapist Elidia Carrera were hired for the Extended School Year summer school program at Yorkville Middle School.
Resignations accepted
Resignations were accepted from Circle Center Grade School first-grade teacher Ashley Pontarelli; Zaida Quinones-Gonzalez, second-grade dual language teacher at Autumn Creek Elementary; Ann Maher, speech language pathologist at Autumn Creek; Emilie Gallup as assistant freshmen girls' basketball coach; Katie Jurak as newspaper sponsor; Mike Dunn, as assistant girls' volleyball coach; Amy McMahill, as JV poms coach; Jon Calder as boys' JV golf coach; Caitlin Graff as JV basketball cheer assistant coach; and Ryan Schill as assistant speech coach.