New year brings new leaders in Dist. 204

A new school year started Tuesday for students, educators and administrators in Indian Prairie Unit District 204, many of whom found themselves in new roles.

At Metea Valley High School, new Superintendent Karen Sullivan joined new Principal Darrell Echols in welcoming students to begin the school's sixth year.

Sullivan said she was beginning a listening tour of all 34 school buildings in the district, which covers parts of Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Plainfield.

“My goal for the district this year is to really get out in the community and introduce myself and to really listen to what the community has to say,” Sullivan told the Daily Herald before the new year started. “Really hear what the concerns are, what the compliments are and what are any of the issues that parents and community members have on their minds.”

As the year started on a day with temperatures originally predicted to rise near 90 degrees, elementary schools that do not yet have air conditioning planned to rotate students through a few cooled spaces. Elementary leaders also encouraged students to dress comfortably for warm days ahead and bring a water bottle to class.

Elementary schools are scheduled to receive partial air-conditioning systems by August 2015 using $3.7 million of unexpected state funding the district received this summer.