As it heads into the new school year removed from state control, the Gary School Board is shoring up key administrative jobs left vacant by the departure of its emergency manager.
On Wednesday, the board appointed Linda Zaborowski as the district’s chief financial officer.
A native of Northwest Indiana, Zaborowski served as deputy treasurer and treasurer in the Griffith Public Schools and at the School Town of Munster.
A district release said Zaborowski worked under the supervision of chief financial officers and was entrusted with the same responsibilities.
“Linda is an accomplished and results-oriented financial professional with 17 years of distinguished experience in non-profit finance,” said Superintendent Yvonne Stokes. “She is recognized for developing and executing comprehensive budgets and timelines, and for leading cross-functional teams to surpass organizational objectives.”
In regular financial updates to the board, former emergency manager Mike Raisor stressed the need to watch spending to sustain the district’s accounts, as it regains its financial footing.
He warned that voters would need to approve the continuation of a $72.1 million property tax referendum by 2028 to keep finances solvent.
Stokes said Zaborowski’s chief goal is to ensure financial stability and growth for the district. She said Zaborowski’s priority is to analyze the district’s financial status, propose corrective actions and work with departments to address budget needs and protocol.
At a July 24 meeting, the school board appointed Hank Kilander as athletic director; Jovanka “Jo” Cvitkovich as director of human resources and Dee Etta Wright as chief operating officer.
Kilander joined the district in 2020 as its athletic coordinator. He previously worked at Merrillville High School.
A release said Kilander helped oversee facility upgrades at the West Side Leadership Academy, the district’s lone high school. He also was instrumental in West Side joining a new athletic conference, re-branding elementary and middle schools with the same Cougar mascot in West Side colors; starting a unified sports program, and relaunching baseball and softball programs.
Previously, Kilander was an assistant football, basketball, baseball, golf and wrestling coach at East Chicago Central High School.
Cvitkovich served as the executive director of exceptional learners in the School City of Hammond and has worked in the Duneland and East Chicago school districts.
She received a bachelor’s degree from Purdue Northwest, a master’s in special education from Indiana University Northwest and a master’s in leadership from Western Governors University.
Outside of education, she has experience in sales and training as well as personnel and legal matters. She has organized job fairs in districts and helped fill highly sought positions, according to a release.
Wright brings more than 35 years of educational leadership experience, including 32 years in East Chicago where she served as superintendent, middle and high school principal and as a science teacher. She also worked in a curriculum role for the Chicago Public Schools.
She came to Gary from Merrillville where she was an administrator.
She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from IUN In 2019, she earned an education specialist degree from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
