The High School District 230 Board voted Thursday to appoint Orland Park resident Nadine Scodro to the board, filling a vacancy created by the resignation in November of Melissa Gracias.
Scodro will serve out the remainder of Gracias’ term and be eligible to seek a full term in the April 2025 elections.
The board also approved Thursday the appointment of Charles Ovando as assistant superintendent of student support and development. He is now the district director of special programs.
Scodro, a graduate of the district’s Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, was a member of the Palos Elementary District 118 Board in Palos Park for 16 years, according to District 230. She works as government affairs manager for the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Scodro was a student in District 118 and was school board president. She stepped down from the board last April. Gracias was chair of the board’s Student Services Committee and was the district’s delegate for the Illinois Association of School Boards, according to District 230.
The district received 24 applications for the vacancy after Gracias announced her departure, which was effective at the end of November. The district had until the end of this month to name Gracias’ replacement.
Gracias was a board member for 10 years and was school board president.
“I am a staunch advocate for schools, and I enjoy working with fellow board members, administrators, and staff to create a path that benefits district students and the community as a whole,” Scodro said in a news release Friday from District 230.
Of the applicants, school board members narrowed the field to five and conducted interviews to select a finalist for the vacancy, according to the district.
Ovando has been the district’s director of special programs for the last four years, overseeing areas such as the English Language Learners program and professional development, according to the district.
He joined District 230 in 2014 as the division chair for social studies, world languages and art and has worked at both Sandburg and the district’s Stagg High School in Palos Hills. The district also includes Andrew High School in Tinley Park.
Ovando will take over the assistant superintendent position from Kim Dryier, who will leave District 230 at the end of June.
mnolan@tribpub.com
