The District 153 school board accepted with regret the announcement from Superintendent Scott McAlister that he will be retiring in June 2026.
“Obviously not an easy decision for me, but I will have been in education for 34 years,” he said as he went through the district’s Personnel Report at its meeting Monday, March 13.
McAlister stepped into his role as superintendent in 2021 after serving a year as assistant superintendent with outgoing superintendent Dale Mitchell. At the time, the board gave him a contract that extends through June 2026.
Together Mitchell and McAlister kept District 153 on an even keel during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Mitchell retired in June 2021, and McAlister took over as superintendent.
McAlister has served as principal of James Hart School. He was an economics teacher and then assistant principal at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. He started his teaching career in Munster, Indiana.
The school board approved the appointment of Eric Trimberger as the next chief school business official for the Homewood district.
Trimberger will step into the position July 1 filling the spot of John Gibson who is retiring. Trimberger said he is “coming out of retirement” to take the job. He is the interim business manager for Harvey District 152. He previously worked for school districts in Carbondale, Niles and Oak Lawn. Trimberger said he was familiar with Homewood schools having interacted with by Mitchell and Gibson.
Gibson has been with District 153 since 2010.
Trimberger has a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, an M.B.A. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an Ed.D. degree in educational leadership from Western Illinois University.
The board also accepted the resignation of Nikki Kerr who is leaving her position as academic innovation administrator to serve as director of curriculum for a school district in Morton Grove. Kerr has 20 years with District 153. She was a teacher, RTI coordinator, assistant principal and principal at Churchill School before stepping into her current position.
In other business, the board agreed to offer after-school coaches a stipend of $25 an hour for every contest they work with students in sports and activities. McAlister said he made the recommendation as a gesture to coaches for the time they add to their day to work with students.
District 153 superintendent announces retirement, board hires business manager
By Marilyn Thomas
The District 153 school board accepted with regret the announcement from Superintendent Scott McAlister that he will be retiring in June 2026.
“Obviously not an easy decision for me, but I will have been in education for 34 years,” he said as he went through the district’s Personnel Report at its meeting Monday, March 13.
McAlister stepped into his role as superintendent in 2021 after serving a year as assistant superintendent with outgoing superintendent Dale Mitchell. At the time, the board gave him a contract that extends through June 2026.
Together Mitchell and McAlister kept District 153 on an even keel during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Mitchell retired in June 2021, and McAlister took over as superintendent.
McAlister has served as principal of James Hart School. He was an economics teacher and then assistant principal at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. He started his teaching career in Munster, Indiana.
The school board approved the appointment of Eric Trimberger as the next chief school business official for the Homewood district.
Trimberger will step into the position July 1 filling the spot of John Gibson who is retiring. Trimberger said he is “coming out of retirement” to take the job after serving as the business manager for Harvey District 152, a position he held for 22 years. Trimberger said he was familiar with Homewood schools having interacted with by Mitchell and Gibson.
Gibson has been with District 153 since 2010.
Trimberger has a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, an M.B.A. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an Ed.D. degree in educational leadership from Western Illinois University.
The board also accepted the resignation of Nikki Kerr who is leaving her position as academic innovation administrator to serve as director of curriculum for a school district in Morton Grove. Kerr has 20 years with District 153. She was a teacher, RTI coordinator, assistant principal and principal at Churchill School before stepping into her current position.
In other business, the board agreed to offer after-school coaches a stipend of $25 an hour for every contest they work with students in sports and activities. McAlister said he made the recommendation as a gesture to coaches for the time they add to their day to work with students.