Dist. 204 inches closer to hiring next superintendent
Indian Prairie Unit District 204 is inching closer to choosing its next superintendent, as the search firm the district hired has finished accepting applications for the position and is working to narrow the field of candidates.
The district has been searching since September, when board members hired Ray and Associates, Inc., of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to find a successor to retiring Superintendent Kathy Birkett.
Birkett, who has spent her entire career of about 35 years in various positions in District 204, will be retiring at the end of this school year. School board President Lori Price said the board hopes to have the next district leader hired by February or March.
Price would not say how many applicants the district received for the position, saying the information is a confidential personnel matter. The number was, however, within the range the board expected and “the board is pleased with the response,” she said.
“We look forward to narrowing down the field based on criteria that the community forums and online responses from our community helped to establish,” Price said.
Board members will meet with search firm staffers Jan. 23 to review candidate profiles and narrow the field further. Semifinalists then will be interviewed the week of Jan. 27, Price said.