When the school bell rings in June, signifying summer break, and, as the kids joyously trade schoolbooks and backpacks for baseball bats and swimming pools, Dr. Mark Maksimowicz, D 49’s school superintendent, will trade temperate summers and colder winters for hotter summers and temperate winters. Maksimowicz is moving just north of Phoenix, Ariz., to take over the Dysart Unified School District, a fast-growing school district – growing at twice the rate as School District 49. Maksimowicz leaves more than 8,000 Falcon district students, intercepting 11,000 students in his new district.Although Maksimowicz is “sad about leaving Falcon,” he is glad he will no longer be dealing with snow days. Maksimowicz has gradually moved toward warmer weather – he left Michigan seven years ago to become the head honcho of the Falcon school district.”I think we’ve accomplished a lot of good things,” said Maksimowicz. “This is a good community, and I’ve made a lot of friends.” Good things have happened during his stay, Maksimowicz said. One major disappointment was the failure of the school’s 2 mill levy override last year. The new superintendent will continue to carry the torch as the district goes back to the voters next fall. Maksimowicz said he would continue to support those efforts throughout the remaining school year. However, as of June, he is heading west.
