How Should 109 Board Proceed in Search?
Arguments are made for a swift search while others would like to see a board elected in April pick the new superintendent. Take the Patch Poll to voice your opinion.
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One of the most important decisions the Deerfield Public Schools District 109 Board of Education must make became a reality last week when Superintendent Renee Goier decided to retire at the end of the 2012-2013 school year.
The Board has already started the process of finding a replacement and announced it will begin to interview search organizations at its July 16 meeting. Patch blogger John Russillo proposed a different scenario Tuesday.
Earlier: Superintendent Search To Ramp Up
Russillo wrote four of the seven Board seats are up for election in April. He suggested the people elected then be charged with the decision rather than the current members. Board President Ellen London, whose term expires in April, believes it is in the District’s best interest to act now.
“We look to fill (superintendent’s positions) in November, assistants in January or February and principals in April,” London said referring to the time top candidates are usually available. If the board were to delay, she said, “there would be slim pickings. We would need an interim.”
London also indicated current law limits hiring retired superintendents on an interim basis.
Former District 113 Superintendent Linda Hanson of Highland Park left that position in 2003 and began School Exec Connect, a search firm, a year later. She served at the helm of Deerfield and Highland Park High Schools from 1999 to 2003.
Hanson agrees with the schedule London laid out. “In Illinois it is the trend to go earlier,” she said about the timing of a superintendent search. “Districts feel compelled to launch by the beginning of the school year.”
When the potential majority of a school board could change shortly after a decision is made, Hanson has helped districts implement a number of scenarios.
“This is a common problem. You don’t want to take yourself out of the picture,” Hanson said. “It takes a new board member a year to be comfortable with the job,” she added referring to the learning curve. “There are ways to be creative.”
Hanson has been involved with districts where a search firm is retained, a number of candidates interviewed and a short list developed by the time candidates for the board must file nominating petitions.
“They (candidates) can serve on a committee,” Hanson said describing search situations she has helped guide. Committee members can give input but the ultimate decision rests with the board which is in place, she stressed.
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former deerfield student/ taxpayer/ parent
8:52 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
Is it true that Ms. Hanson's firm is responsible for proposing Dr. Goier and the principals hired during her time in 109?
katie Bittner
9:11 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
Yes it is true. I don't think we want a search firm who is responsible for our current Superintendent advising us on how to proceed. When every teacher except two vote to strike there are obvious issues with the leadership and methodology being used to run our schools . We have seen recent administrative positions filled by applicants who are not the most qualified people. (even though we spent 10,000 and included teachers and parents but then did not take their recommendations anyway ). Once again it is 109 doing everything "for show" but nothing that really reflects thoughtful, reflective decision making in the best interests of our children. Time to hire a collaborative leader who can make the changes this district needs . And current board members who roll their eyes and make faces at parents who chose to participate in board meetings do not have a place in this important change and decision.
John Russillo
9:31 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
Allowing Board candidates "public input" is meaningless with this administration. It would be a dog and pony show just like all the other "focus groups" we've had over the years.
John Russillo
9:15 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
I agree that sooner is better when selecting a new Supt. If an interim is the only way to go to allow the next Board to select the next full time Supt for this district then that is what we have to do. It is not the perfect scenario but the decisions this Board has made are far from perfect. Decisions such as hiring an HR director that was involved in 2 strikes. Decisions such as hiring a principal that had to step down two years later because of criminal complaints. We CANNOT allow this Board, who is controlled by the current Supt, to choose her hand-picked successor.
The community has already started the process to put together a scenario to present to the Board and President London's comments regarding an interim are a welcome thought. Hopefully we can work something out with the Board and not have to enter into a petition process. Stay tuned.
John Russillo
9:28 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
And is President London actually suggesting that she is expecting this new Supt to hire all new staff including principals? Hold the phone, folks! How much money have we invested in this administration including PhD programs? I'm sure people have their own thoughts about the principals and APs both positive and negative but I think cleaning house that quickly is the absolute WRONG thing to do. Any good leader takes time to evaluate their people before making changes. I can see a new Supt bringing in an assistant Supt right away maybe, but making wholesale changes before that person understands the dynamics of the district? As a parent who has been in this district for 7 years and is looking at another 9, this Board just scares the crap out of me.
Curious Resident
12:13 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Who is Ms. Hanson's and her firm? Why is it if we do not trust our school board that we can't have a petition or request a vote from the union on no contest for the school board and superintendent? That is what the school district did for the almost retired HR Director, who by the way instead of being fired took early retirement....did you know that? Because our tax dollars continued to add to his retirement plan and that's why he only worked three days a week. That is state mandated. I would much rather have an interm superintendent before these morons hire another one!!!!!
barry
12:25 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
...and another thing to consider: lots of people within the district with Wisconsin connections. I only bring it up because...1. DALE FISCHER, REMOVED CARUSO Principal, is now human resource director for the district, and 2. We were saddled with this guy for years EVEN AS HE COMMUTED from Wisconsin to report for work at CARUSO, using a district gas card? And 3....beurocrats employed in education will be jumping at the chance to now become a highly paid administrator WITH A GREAT ILLINOIS STYLE PENSION....(compared to what they have now in Wisconsin, thanks to their Governor and Tea party)....and cronyism could defiantly play a part in our hiring process with Goir, London, Schwartz and Fischer involved in the selection process. TOP TALENT would be available out of that state. But I for one don't want those four choosing a color....let alone personnel anymore
barry
12:26 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
....there are other options.
STAY TUNED.
Bob Mavet
7:52 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The current board has lost the confidence of the community and has a negative trust rating. The prudent decision would be to create a healing process by engaging an interim administrator who can bring objectivity and experience outside of Deerfield Dist. 109. After the new board is seated, a proper and deliberative selection process will insure that potential candidates are vetted and deemed to be a fit with the philosophy of the district and parents. The collaboration of parents, educators and board members insures transparency in the process and prevents a retention of the current monarchy. A new administrator will be in position to evaluate the performance of the in-place administrative staff and determine that they are accountable to the community re performance and effectiveness.
Bob Mavet
7:57 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
One more comment, the appointment of a search firm should be a competitive bid and not sole source, especially where there is a negative performance track record by a firm that is formerly directly connected to District 109. This will also result in potential cost savings that competition brings and will compel the administration to carefully consider the use of taxpayer funds.
Dan Gross
5:50 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
If you wait until April, all the good candidates will be gone. You simply can't wait.
John Russillo
6:02 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Sure you can. Hire an interim and let the next Board make the decision. Then Ms. Hanson gets her 12 months of seasoning that she recommends. The alternative is to allow people who have run the district into the ground to hire the next leader. Not an option.
Bob Mavet
12:24 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Dan, there is an abundance of talent out there dedicated to quality education. It is best to be deliberate, patient, take appropriate time to check out credentials and references and insure that the candidate will suit the community's approach to public education.
John Russillo
5:55 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Well, 100+ votes and the Board is running at a 20% confidence rate. Sounds about right.