Who's the boss?

We know for sure Mr. O'Brien's picture will be hanging with the other former directors next year. But who will sit in his chair?

Rumors have been flooding around Vanguard for months that our director Michael O'Brien will not be returning next year. These rumors were confirmed last Monday at Big Team when O'Brien announced his July 1st resignation to the students.

According to the District 214 homepage, Dr. Charles Johns, principal of Rolling Meadows High School, is supposed to fill O'Brien's position for the 2011-2012 school year. I met with Dr. Johns in late January and we discussed his goals and objectives for next school year. He expressed much excitement in joining the Vanguard family. I am waiting to hear back from him.

"Dr. Johns took a new position as Assistant Superintendent in Elmhurst," said Mr. O'Brien. Students and staff are now again wondering, who will be director next year? The district will be holding interviews for the new Director of Alternative Schools. Rumor has it that interviews are being held this week. Some sources say we should have a new director by mid-June.

This back and fourth is taking a toll on staff and students. "As a staff, we were informed in January that Dr. Johns was coming here. We did preparations with him, and now it's lost time. It's sort of frustrating," stated Mr. Heldmann. Also, Ms. O'Neill aired concern Vanguard summer school will be difficult to run without an administrator. Mr. O'Brien will run summer school completion for Vanguard until July 1.

Randy Hawley, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources, was not available for questions. He is currently on vacation.

Even though next year's director is nonexistent at the moment, students and staff are holding their heads high. "I believe this isn't what O'Brien wanted right now, but something good will come of it. He'll be better off in the long run," shared Dr. Koralik.

"Dr. Johns must have taken one look inside, seen the students and bolted," joked student Thad Struggles. In all seriousness, Thad believes everything will work out for the best but he mentioned that he and his family will miss Mr. O'Brien.

Story by Annemarie Schaefer