District 205 Board Discusses Future Superintendent, Budget Cuts with Parents

Budget cuts, teacher evaluations and a future superintendent were at the forefront of conversations at the Elmhurst PTA Council's annual meeting with the District 205 Board of Education and school administration Nov. 2.

Parents and community members were encouraged to bring in questions, concerns and ideas for the school district.

"This is something the PTA has done before I got on the board," said School Board President Peggy Ostojic. "It's good to have feedback in a variety of areas."

And community members wasted no time as questions of the future superintendent were brought forth.

"We hope to have a superintendent appointed by mid-March," said Ostojic, adding that they have interviewed three firms who would, if hired, assess the district and bring about five candidates to interview. They will decide on Nov. 16 which search firm to hire.

These talks came after the District 205 Board opted not to renew the contract of their current superintendent, Lynn Krizic, who's contract ends June 30.

When asked what qualities they were looking for in a new superintendent, board member Suzanne De Ronne said the board "doesn't know yet" and that the topic is "something [the board hopes] to hear from the community or focus groups."

Conversations of budget cuts also loomed. Administrators cited the Elmhurst Educational Program Revue Technique (EEPRT) as a program designed to evaluate the value of educational programs, as means to provide these cuts.

"We have brought this process in to look at data so we can look at all our programs to see where our money is best being spent," said David Smith, director of technology.

Assistant Superintendent for Finance Pat Masterton said while $2.75 million was reduced last year, the district will need to cut an additional $3 million to $5 million this year, something she says EEPRT will aid in.

The EEPRT process will happen in February.

Board member Marta Davy added that while budget cuts must be made within the district, teachers would in no way be affected by it.

"We don't plan on balancing that on the backs of teachers. That wouldn't be in the best interest of any of us," she said.

Community members present asserted their desire for teachers to be more accurately evaluated in terms of performance.

De Ronne was quick to reply that the current administrations had "introduced a much more rigorous teacher evaluation program."

Smith agreed with her and stated the district anticipates adopting a more accurate evaluation data process in the future.

"In the business world, this is something that's done on a more frequent level," said Smith. "In the educational world, we're still looking to get there, and it's not just our district. Our district is ahead with just talking about it."

Parents present also expressed discontent with the way students were being evaluated, claiming it doesn't occur often enough and at times can be vague.

"It's insane that you would wait until the semester's almost over before you get any significant feedback," said Elmhurst resident Bryan Skotty, who cited parent-teacher conferences as one of the only times he finds out what is "happening in the classroom."

Krizic added that while the district is working toward making curricula and tests more valid, they are also finding ways to get information back to parents more adequately.

"We're putting more structures and systems in place, and then we'll hopefully be able to communicate in ways that are meaningful to you," Krizic said. "At the end of the day, we want kids to take feedback from what they've received and make choices."

Karen Sullivan, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, agreed with Krizic.

"We are taking baby steps to shift the way we evaluate kids," she said.