The Community Consolidated School District 181 School Board held a special meeting Wednesday to swear in Clarendon Hills resident Keith Peterson.

Peterson will serve the remainder of former board member Kevin Hanrahan’s term, which expires in April 2009.

Attempts to reach Peterson were unsuccessful.

School Board member Bruce Walker said board members used a self-nominating process and then collectively identified a short list of potential candidates. After interviews and a review of specific qualifications, Walker said Peterson was the best fit for the position.

“He brings a very balanced vision for the district, he brings complimentary skills to the board and he also brings a certain amount of knowledge and engagement regarding issues facing the district,” Walker said.

Peterson has a backround in finance and communication and has lived in the community for 14 years. He and his wife have six children who have attended or are currently enrolled in Walker School and Clarendon Hills Middle School.

"Knowing some of the challenges and opportunities facing the district, I know I can offer significant value and full time participation," Peterson said in a release on Friday.

Peterson works as senior vice president of a global business software firm, has masters degrees in business administration and executive management, and has taught at Xavier University. He has also served as a guest lecturer at Northwestern University.

Peterson will be joining a School Board with more than a full plate of business to discuss, most notably the overcrowding problem at Clarendon Hills Middle School. School officials are meeting tonight to discuss the possibility of redistricting or creating a task force to research potential solutions.

Hanrahan submitted his resignation March 30. The executive of a recruiting firm will be moving with his family to Dallas this summer to open up a second office for his company. Hanrahan was part of a District 181 task force that researched the concept of building a new middle school in Veeck Park in Hinsdale with the intention of swapping the current Hinsdale Middle School site with village to expand its downtown. After months of meetings, the task force, along with a village committee, determined to shelve the concept and explore other options.