DEKALB — Rochelle School District 212 Superintendent Jamie Craven will be heading east to become the new superintendent of DeKalb School District 428.

The DeKalb district board passed a motion by 4-3 vote Tuesday evening to approve a three-year contract with Craven, who has spent the last 10 years as Rochelle's superintendent. Craven will begin his tenure on July 1.

"I see DeKalb as a great professional opportunity," Craven said. "The thing I look forward to the most is the challenge of being in a bigger district and having a lot more responsibility. The things I'll miss about about working in Rochelle are the teachers and the kids. Rochelle's been great for me and my family, but sometimes it's time for a change."

Craven has been with Rochelle School District 212 for the past 23 years. He will replace DeKalb interim Superintendent Bradley Hawk, who took over in September when former Superintendent Doug Moeller resigned on April 30 by mutual agreement with the district.

"The first thing is you have to be patient," Craven said when asked how his experience as Rochelle's superintendent will help him in DeKalb. "You have to be precise and thoughtful with your decision making and planning. There's always more than one solution to different issues."

Craven will be paid $180,000 in his first year, with raises in the next two years based on performance evaluations. He was four years into a six-year contract with Rochelle School District 212.