The Examiner U-46 News Feed

U-46 focusing internally in superintendent search

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 announced that it will be looking internally for a new superintendent  
  Sue Kerr, the board’s president, stated the board hired Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA) to assist in the search at the Monday, March 13 meeting. The board then voted 6-0, board member Dawn Martin was absent, on a letter of agreement (LOA) with HYA at its meeting on Monday, March 20 which listed the fees as $22,500 with a $2,500 a day fee for an additional on-site consulting days.
  Suzanne Johnson was promoted from deputy superintendent of instruction to interim superintendent, which runs through June 30, late last month after former Superintendent Tony Sanders left the district to become the Illinois State Superintendent.
  “There are several reasons we decided to review only internal candidates,” Kerr said. “We are fortunate to have an outstanding group of administrators with superintendent endorsements who have the ability to transition into this position. We also believe that utilizing a ‘grow your own’ strategy, a strategy the District has developed with other staffing positions, will result in a more efficient and successful transition for the District as a whole.”
  Kerr added that there are “important initiatives… underway” including “U-46 Rising, the introduction of a grade six through eight middle school model and infrastructure considerations, to name just a few, which an internal candidate would be familiar with and offer more effective oversight right from the start.”
  Kerr said the board reviewed firms the past few months” and “particularly liked HYA’s survey instruments and reporting products.”
  “The search firm will assist us with processing applications and conducting community surveys, forums and focus groups,” Kerr said. “The board wants community input on what people would like to see in a new superintendent and what they believe are the strengths and weaknesses of the district.”
  An online survey from HYA is now up which will remain available until April 14, and there will be various interviews and screenings during the process.
  The timeline in the LOA shows an appointment of a superintendent is expected no later than May 26. If an internal candidate is not found during the process, Kerr said the board will then seek a wider search.