U-46 prepares to hire a headhunting firm

Elgin Area School District U-46 plans to hold an open forum on Nov. 7 to interview at least four executive search firms, the first step in replacing outgoing Superintendent Connie Neale.

The candidates likely will include an out-of-state agency.

The school board also has asked district lawyers to outline the rules governing a superintendent search, school board President Ken Kaczynski said.

"We want to make sure as much as is practical is done out in the open," Kaczynski said.

The previous superintendent search, which began in 2001, lasted more than seven months.

At one point, the district's Iowa-based search firm had to start from square one because its original five finalists all fell through. The top two candidates withdrew their applications, and the board declined to consider the other three.

Ultimately, at least three candidates turned down U-46's offer before the district hired Neale in June 2002.

The district is in better shape now -- both financially and academically -- than when it undertook the search for Neale.

During Neale's tenure, the district received national attention for its improved test scores and work with the philanthropic Stupski foundation, which has put U-46 officials in touch with educators and education consultants from across the country.

Soon after Neale was hired, the district discovered a $40 million operating deficit, which has since been erased.

The next superintendent will face a new set of challenges, include a discrimination lawsuit against the district and a teaching corps working under the terms of an expired contract.

"It's a daunting task, but I think we're up to it," Kaczynski said.