CAZENOVIA — The Weston School District will have a new superintendent/principal beginning next semester. Current Weston Administrator Tom Andres will be stepping down to make room for Eric Franzen.

Franzen is a science teacher at Waukesha North High School right now, but will become the Weston administrator following a 20 day transition period with Andres. Andres will remain on call after that if Franzen should need his services.

"I told him, 'congratulations... kind of,'" Dr. Ryan Champeau, Waukesha North principal, said about Franzen's departure. Champeau said Franzen is extremely versatile as a teacher and a leader.

"Eric is one of the pillars of our faculty," Champeau added. "He played a pivotal role in gathering data and moving it forward in redesigning our school system."

Andres said the Weston School District is optimistic Franzen can "help take the district to the next level" and "get things back on track." Franzen said he is just happy to be moving to a smaller district.

"I like small school America and I wanted to get back to that," Franzen, who began his teaching career in the Seneca School District, said. "I like the idea of knowing everyone at the school."

Despite having a sophomore daughter at UW-Milwaukee, Erin, and a freshman daughter at Waukesha North, Margaret, Franzen said the decision to come to Weston was not difficult to make.

"I did not hesitate for a second," he said. "It was what I was looking for."

He said he was considering offers from several other school districts, but jumped at the opportunity to become the administrator for Weston. Margaret will finish out the year at Waukesha North before enrolling at Weston next academic year.

Champeau said he was very excited for Franzen, but that he will be missed dearly. "I don't think we're going to be able to replace him with just one person," Champeau said. "But I'm a firm believer in helping people move forward. You don't hold people back. Weston, I think they're very fortunate to have him."

Weston is banking on Franzen's 20 years of teaching and 24 years of Army reserve experience to serve the district well. Franzen will be occupying a role the district was originally grooming John Klang for several years ago.

In the wake of Klang's tragic murder, then one-day-a-week administrator Terry Milfred had to take on a more prominent role, and Melissa Nye became the principal. Andres eventually stepped in as the administrator and took over the principal duties for the last year as a transitional person for the district. Andres knew it would not last long because he had to travel from Merrimac.

"I think the person has to be here in the district," Andres said. "That's very important to me."

Franzen is currently looking for a home in Weston so he can be an effective administrator and community member. He will come to the district with one main goal to start.

"My first goal right now is a smooth transition," Franzen said. "It's all about integrating me into the district first." After examining the district, he said he hopes to develop a set of goals and objectives for the short and long term.

 He said moving to a smaller district will have several disadvantages, adding he's up for the challenge. "We have to be a lot more frugal and a lot more decisive with our resources," Franzen said.