Dist. 203 to name interim superintendent in coming weeks

Naperville Unit District 203 will be led by an interim superintendent during a year in which the district is likely to adopt an all-day kindergarten program, enter a second phase of boundary changes and continue to prepare for the adoption of the Common Core standards.

District officials Monday night conceded they were not likely to get the highest caliber of candidates if they were to only conduct a three-month search and seat a full-time superintendent by July 1.

“The board has decided that we’re planning on a full search for the superintendent. We don’t think we have enough time to do that at this time of the year,” board President Mike Jaensch said after Monday night’s meeting. “We wouldn’t get the caliber of people that we expect, so we will be looking at an interim. I’m confident we will have that person’s name at the next board meeting.”

The district is in a bit of a bind to replace outgoing Superintendent Mark Mitrovich, who announced his resignation two weeks ago, citing personal and professional reasons.

Jaensch said board members do not believe they could “do a search justice at this time.” So they will begin the process in the fall by reaching out to candidates and interviewing them.

“Obviously the time line would have been different (if Mitrovich resigned) six months prior, but it didn’t,” he said. “And quite honestly, we have a strong team. We have every confidence that we can proceed and proceed successfully with the staff that we have now.”

Jaensch would not say whether the interim superintendent will be an in-house staff member.