District 301 model for savings in superintendent search
In these uncertain economic times, cutbacks in school districts' budgets are more the rule than the exception.
Field trips. Classroom temperatures. Administrative salaries. Staffing. Spending on each and every category is being carefully scrutinized. It has to be.
But money saved in the search for a new superintendent? Novel and refreshing.
These days, it's custom for most districts to hire a pricey search firm to hunt for a new superintendent.
We saw it last winter in U-46, which hired Milwaukee-based search firm ProAct after former superintendent Connie Neale went on indefinite sick leave, moving to a home in Joplin, Mo.
In recruiting superintendent Jose Torres, the district paid ProAct $27,000 for its services, plus another $18,000 in search expenses - which included background checks on finalists, travel expenses, supplies, advertising and technology expenses.
This winter, search firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates is handled applications for Naperville District 203, leading to the controversial selection of new Superintendent Mark Mitrovich.
In working to find a replacement for West Chicago District 94 Superintendent Lee Rieck, that same firm is being between $20,000 and $30,000.
But in their hunt to find a replacement for outgoing Superintendent Brad Hawk, Burlington-based Central Community Unit District 301, thought twice about hiring an outside agency, realizing some significant savings.
The school board last week appointed Todd Stirn, currently the district's assistant superintendent for administrative services, to the position.
Stirn has worked in District 301 since 2003; first serving as principal of Prairie View Grade School in Elgin before moving to the assistant superintendent job in 2007.
Board members unanimously selected Stirn after finishing a three-month process interviewing three professional superintendent search firms.
During that process, outgoing Superintendent Brad Hawk said, all three firms reiterated the same message.
"The advice was that we needed to consider an internal candidate before any of the firms would move forward with an outside search of the district," he said.
After Stirn was interviewed by board members as well as several leadership groups throughout the district this winter, board members said they felt no need to conduct an outside search.
Perhaps district 301 students will realize the savings in areas like field trips and classroom temperatures.
Art showcase: The eighth Art Showcase featuring the work of U-46 high school students opened this week at First Community Bank at Big Timber Road and McLean Boulevard in Elgin.
The entries, according to district officials, come in a variety of mediums like foam core, wire, and clay.
Judging the exhibit are Elgin Community College visual arts professors Joel Peck and Howard Russo.
Ribbons for first, second and third place, along with Honorable Mentions will be awarded for in five categories: Drawing/Printmaking, Painting, Photo/Digital, Ceramics and Sculpture/ Jewelry. In addition, one piece of artwork will be chosen for the cover design of U-46's 2009-2010 High School curriculum guide.
Gallery hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
For information, contact Terri DeDecker at (847) 888-5000, ext. 7007 or Joseph Stanczak at (847) 622-8800, ext. 342.