Interim Superintendent Robert Madonia

Lemont-Bromberek District 113A’s recently hired Interim Superintendent Robert Madonia, who has 23 years of superintendent experience, saw working at the district as an opportunity to give back and do the work that he loves.

“I really love what I do,” Madonia said in a recent interview.

Madonia, who has 23 years of experience as a superintendent and a total of 40 years of experience in the educational field, is retired but chose the opportunity to work as the district’s part-time interim superintendent as a way to give back.

“I like to give back to my profession for all the years that my profession gave to me,” Madonia said.

Madonia, who has also worked as an adjunct professor for 20 years, said that he currently teaches graduate classes for Concordia University in school law, school finance and curriculum courses.

He has his doctorate and master’s degrees in school administration from Loyola University and his bachelor’s, with a major in biology and minor in chemistry, from Benedictine University.

In 2009, Madonia retired, after seven years as superintendent at Frankfort School District 157-C. Prior to that, he was superintendent of the North Riverside School District 94 for 16 years, where he also honed his financial skills as the school did not have a business manager to handle finances, he said.
In addition to 23 years of superintendent experience, Madonia said that he has also served as a principal, assistant principal, curriculum director and biology teacher, with a total of 40 years of experience in education.

On Jan. 24, the District 113A school board unanimously approved Madonia as interim superintendent from the six candidates interviewed and his first day at the district was Jan. 25, he said. His contract stipulates that he works as interim superintendent one to three days a week, which usually works out to two days a week, he said. Madonia, who will serve through June 30, will lead the school district through the rest of the year, along with Assistant Superintendent Mary Gricus and the administrative team.

His vision for the school year includes working on a financial plan for the district, pursuing financial solvency, helping to transition the new permanent superintendent and to provide mentoring for staff and administrators. He said that he wants to “help as much as I can to move the school district forward.”
Madonia said that District 113A is not the only school district experiencing financial difficulties influenced by diminished state aid and late payments from the state.

“All schools right now are facing challenges in finance,” Madonia said.
Madonia said that he does not intend to apply for the permanent superintendent opening, as he is in retirement. In April, the District 113A school board will probably announce the permanent superintendent, who will be seated on July 1, according to a district news release. The Illinois Association of School Boards is screening candidates for the district, according to the news release.