Departing Dist. 204 superintendent has regrets in leaving

Indian Prairie Unit District 204 Superintendent Stephen Daeschner says he has regrets about leaving the district with a year remaining on his contract, but believes the school system is poised to be the best in the country.

Daeschner, 67, came to Indian Prairie in 2007 after 14 years at the helm of the Louisville, Ky., school system. He will return to that area beginning July 1 when he officially steps in as superintendent of the Greater Clark County Schools system in southern Indiana.

Indian Prairie covers portions of Naperville, Aurora, Plainfield and Bolingbrook.

He spoke with the Daily Herald Friday for the first time since accepting his new job earlier this week.

Q. You originally said you might not take the Greater Clark County job if it was offered to you. What changed your mind?

A. Probably several things, but the major one is the contract (a three-year deal with an initial salary of $225,000 a year). You can't go anywhere without the two sides agreeing that's what the compensation would be.

We've since had the time to iron out some things that both parties are comfortable with. That was the major thing we were looking at. I did take a pay cut (from roughly $266,000 a year in Indian Prairie).

Q. Are there some specific challenges you'll face in southern Indiana?

A. I've never been in a district where there wasn't some kind of thing going on. You always like to have it focused on kids and I'm not too sure that that's the case up here at all times. Achievement there is far different from the achievement here in Naperville based on a variety of measures.

Q. What are you most excited about?

A. Well, I think the thing I'm most excited about is working with that community and that district's principals to address the educational achievement of those kids.

Q. But aren't there at-risk students in Indian Prairie?

A. There certainly are at-risk kids in 204, but most of the kids here come from two-parent families and are significantly more affluent than the families in Greater Clark.

Q. What accomplishment are you most proud of during your two years in District 204?

A. I have wonderful, wonderful memories of wonderful, wonderful experiences here in District 204. I think it is a very good board that cares about kids and represents the community.

I've probably laughed more and enjoyed central office staff more than any place I've ever been. We've laughed at each other, with each other, about each other. I think humor is a wonderful ingredient, so from those two entities it's been really a lot of fun.

I think we've had a chance to have the board set some courses for the future that I think are exciting. I think the targets are as clear and aggressive as any targets I've encountered. If the board does its best to support those and implement those, I think nothing but great things lie ahead for this district.

Q. Board President Curt Bradshaw credited you this week for laying a foundation that motivated staff and principals to be more motivated about every student succeeding than at any other point in the district's history. How did you do that?

A. I think that's a little ambitious and in all honestly it was very nice of him to say that. I think to do the things he talked about is a huge advantage to kids. We certainly have begun to put systems in place to do the things Curt articulated.

As an example, the middle school schedule and the professional development we're working on next year, the school improvement plans, our intervention systems. Not all staff understand those and certainly not all staff embrace those, but if you stay the course I think you're looking at the premier school district in the United States in the very near future.

Q. Do you have any regrets as you leave 204?

A. Oh sure. Absolutely. I have guilt about leaving the district. You always like to see things through but I really am excited about the opportunity to do something different with a different set of variables and kids.

So yeah, I have some guilt, if you will. I have some remorse and in all honesty I hope I have a good relationship with whoever comes in here because I'm anxious to keep up with them and see how they do.

Q. What do you believe the immediate future holds for District 204 and the opening of Metea Valley High School this fall?

A. I've pretty well explained that for District 204. I think the board has done a herculean job of setting some direction. I think the district is aligned to be great. Greatness is in their cards.

I think Metea Valley will be the premier facility. I'm not going to say education because that's a function of teachers and principals, but a premier facility in the Chicago suburbs. I think that school is just marvelous. I walked it the other day and it's great. The staff has also done a great job staffing it to get the most from that temple, if you will.

Q. Are you sad that won't see it open?

A. I will always carry that pride in getting Metea going and yes that is one of the regrets. But it's an exciting place. This district really is a nice place to raise kids.

Q. Is it your sense Deputy Superintendent Kathryn Birkett will be the next superintendent of District 204? Have you been helping her prepare for that role?

A. That's always a decision of the board but I think Kathy is just an excellent educator. I don't think I've worked with anyone in my career where we've complemented each other so well. Her experience in this district and knowledge of people is phenomenal. I think she's qualified. I think she could do a great job. But that's a function of the board and whoever they go with, she certainly carries invaluable experience in this district.

Q. What will consume your time between today and July 1?

A. First and foremost I will continue to do my job. I have a contract and I will continue to fulfill that contract the best I can between now and the first week of July. There's certainly some projects that I will work on and get ready for the Metea opening.

At the same time, I will probably start reviewing all my files and seeing what can I take with me? What have I learned? What is my entry plan? It will be all of those kinds of functions. I'll be busy.

Q. During your tenure, there were times when things you said or your body language indicated you didn't feel appreciated or valued in District 204. Is that an accurate assessment? Will you feel more comfortable in southern Indiana?

A. It's always nice to be appreciated. I think a person that says they don't like to be appreciated has a problem. It's certainly nice to be appreciated and recognized and I should be. I spent 14 years down there on what they call the sunny side of the river. I enjoy the welcome response I've received down there but I don't know that that played into my decision.

I think there's certainly a population of individuals in this community that think they know quite a bit more about the education of children than the individuals that have spent their lives doing that. There is no decision that there hasn't been individuals saying it's the wrong decision or the wrong use of money or this or that.

Now that's not unusual in districts or for superintendents. But the outcry from a very, very small group - some of that we couldn't do anything about. I think a lot of that was baited by the new high school and the (dispute over the) site and the changed boundaries. Those are very, very emotional upsetting decisions that districts have to make.

But I applaud this board for staying focused. We certainly tried to provide the best information, but when you do that, there's spillover and folks who think they know more about the district's finances or that boundaries are wrong because of preconceived boundaries.

But we're in a position to look at the data every day and know how crowded the schools are and to know what we can and can't do.

One of the things most interesting to me was the last board election where you had a small group of candidates who had a totally different view of the direction of this district and they did not fare very well did they? That's a silent majority or something but we're still a democratic form of government here and people are wise to who's running and who's running for the right reasons.

Q. What will your legacy be in Indian Prairie?

A. I would say thank you for allowing me to be superintendent for two years. I've taken a lot away that this district is doing. I had a different view when I arrived and I'm taking away some changes in my mind and that's nice. I hope they understand that this district has the opportunity to be the best. I think it will take work but the kids deserve it. So my legacy is onward.