Thirty want Dist. U-46 superintendent's job

Thirty candidates have applied to be the next superintendent of Elgin Area School District U-46.

Representatives from the Milwaukee-based superintendent search firm ProAct Inc. this week presented the school board with candidate applications collected since January.

According to board President Ken Kaczynski, 19 of the 30 applicants are from the Midwest, having "past or present ties to the greater U-46 community or Illinois."

According to ProAct officials, 20 candidates have experience as a school superintendent, chief executive officer or president. The other 10 candidates have held positions as assistant superintendents, chief accountability officers, chief financial officers or college deans.

Kaczynski said he and fellow board members were "pleased with the number of well-educated and experienced candidates brought forward."

The search to find a new superintendent first began in December, two months after Connie Neale went on indefinite sick leave, moving to a home in Joplin, Mo. She stayed on the district payroll until Feb. 25.

ProAct will be paid $27,000 for its services, plus up to $18,000 in search expenses, which include background checks on finalists, travel expenses, supplies, advertising and technology expenses.

U-46 used search firms in securing both Neale and her predecessor, Marvin Edwards. This is the first time ProAct has worked with the district.

Hoping to have a new superintendent in place by May, the school board is whittling the list of applicants. Board members will interview eight to 10 applicants in mid-April, ProAct President Nancy Noeske said.

Interim Superintendent Mary Jayne Broncato's contract expires June 30.