District 204 superintendent search may come to quick conclusion
The search for a new superintendent in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 may end this month with the selection of an in-house candidate.
Deputy Superintendent Kathryn Birkett, the district's second-highest ranking administrator, currently is the only person being considered to replace Stephen Daeschner, sources with knowledge of the search confirmed Thursday.
Daeschner's last day with the district - which covers portions of Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Plainfield - is June 30. He accepted a superintendent's post in southern Indiana in mid-May and will depart with a full year remaining on his three-year pact with District 204.
The school board met with Birkett for what were described as intense interviews that lasted more than four hours spread over two nights on May 28 and Monday. The board has scheduled closed-door meetings again for Sunday and Wednesday.
School board President Curt Bradshaw said Tuesday that Bill Attea of Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates, Ltd., has been hired - at an undisclosed hourly rate - to update the district's 2-year-old search criteria and to assist the board in evaluating its options during its current superintendent search.
Sources said Attea is not charging for at least part of his time to compensate the district because Daeschner, whom the firm recommended two years ago, is stepping down without completing his contract.
School board members have refused to discuss details of their search.
But a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Attea is meeting individually with board members and parent and teacher groups to see how well they would mesh with Birkett. He is scheduled to interview Birkett on Saturday afternoon and will brief the board on his findings at a 2 p.m. meeting on Sunday.
The board, according to a source, could offer Birkett the job as early as Wednesday. Both sides would like to get the deal done before Daeschner leaves on June 30.
If a superintendent is not in place before Daeschner departs, Birkett's contract stipulates she automatically becomes interim superintendent.
Birkett joined District 204 in August 1979 as a physical education teacher. In 1987 she became assistant principal at Waubonsie Valley High School and in 1991 she was named principal at Steck Elementary School.
In 1996 she was tapped as principal to open the new $63 million Neuqua Valley High School before joining the administration as assistant superintendent in 2004.