District 128 paring down 22 applicants for superintendent
The funnel is narrowing on the search for a new superintendent to lead Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128.
Twenty-two applications have been received for the position that starts in the 2025-26 school year, the district reported in a recent update.
The school district last week held three closed-door sessions and will narrow the list to six semifinalists for second-round interviews.
Two or three finalists will be interviewed Jan. 29 by an advisory committee comprising district administrators, union representatives and school board candidates under the direction of search firm BWP & Associates.
Veteran educators Raymond Lechner and Rebecca Nelson were appointed last July as interim superintendents for the current school year.
BWP was hired later to find a permanent replacement for Denise Herrmann who had been hired in 2021 and had more than three years left on her contract when she was put on paid leave in July. The school board in August authorized a separation agreement.
Herrmann had been under fire for months when in May the 293-member teachers union publicly aired its vote of no confidence. Among the criticisms was an alleged lack of planning in pursuit of educational initiatives.
Packed school board meetings lasted hours and at one point a petition with 1,116 signatures called for the district to “press pause” on the initiatives.
In early November, BWP held remote and in-person public forums for input from teachers, parents, administrators and students on desired qualities, experience and characteristics of the next superintendent.
A resulting leadership profile for a permanent replacement is heavy on collaboration and communication with all stakeholders. Being transparent and rebuilding trust as well as being an approachable, hands-on leader are other characteristics being sought.
The firm will provide an update on the status of the search at the Jan. 28 school board meeting, beginning 7 p.m. in the Vernon Hills High School library, 145 Lakeview Parkway.
A candidate will be hired no later than Feb. 24, according to the district.