District 70 to Welcome New Superintendent

Next school year, Morton Grove Elementary School District 70 will have a new superintendent.

Last month, the Board of Education voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Phil Collins as superintendent of District 70, effective July 1, 2012. Collins currently serves as assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment for Glenview School District 34. District 34 officials announced Collins' departure at their most recent board meeting.

This will be Collins' 10th year with D34, before he leaves for his new position.

"I know this is gonna be a very difficult district to leave," Collins said.

It was a move Brett Clark, executive director of communications and strategic planning for D34, saw coming.

"Whenever you have someone as talented as Phil, you have the understanding that someday he will probably be a superintendent (somewhere)," Clark said.

District 70 School Board President Tony Hofeld said he is looking forward to working with Collins.

“We are excited about Phil joining us at District 70," said Hofeld in a press release. "His educational background and experience have prepared him extremely well to assume the overall leadership role in our district..."

Current District 70 Superintendent Dr. Gary Zabilka will retire on June 30, 2012. He has been Superintendent in District 70 since July 1, 2003, according to a district press release.