Schools
District 70 Says Goodbye to Board President
Seven-year board member swears in new and incumbent members during her last school board meeting.
Libertyville’s District 70 Elementary School District Board of Education honored former Board President Judy Zoellick at their monthly meeting on Monday. Zoellick, who has served as a board member for seven years did not seek reelection this year.
“You have represented us well, no question about it,” said Guy Schumacher, superintendent of Libertyville Elementary School District 70. “You ask the right questions. You have a very kind ear and what I consider a very genuinely soft heart. When you need to be direct, you are extraordinarily direct, because it’s all for the children. And that’s your priority. To me those are the absolute qualities of true leaders.”
Schumacher also announced that Zoellick’s name will hang in the ERC building on a new plaque recognizing outstanding service.
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“It’s been a wonderful seven years and I wouldn’t have changed a thing,” Zoellick said after the meeting. “I’m going to miss everyone. I love District 70. This group is so devoted to the kids, and I’ll never forget them.”
Zoellick explained that with her children growing older and moving into other school districts, she felt she would be too out of touch with the district, and decided not to seek another term.
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“It wouldn’t have been fair to the board or the kids,” she said.
Current board member Maryann Ovassapian will be taking her place, and before leaving, Zoellick swore in Ovassapian, incumbent Chris Kennedy and new board member Jennifer Lund. Ovassapian says that she fell in love with the position when she took the role when a previous board president was ill.
“There was something about it. It felt good,” Ovassapian said. “I’m very proud of our school board. We’re a very committed group of individuals who have one thing in mind, the children.”
Ovassapian says going forward in her new role, she is most excited for the upcoming Strategic Planning Committee.
“Dr. Schumacher has been working very hard with our facilitators. It’s going to bring great ideas to the district,” Ovassapian said. “It’s going to involve our community members, our parents, constituents. I think it’s a great idea.”
Ovassapian says that her focus will be on fiscal responsibility and maintaining high level of standards in the schools.
