New Hinsdale South Principal Selected

DARIEN, IL – Faced with high administrative turnover, the Hinsdale High School District 86 board wasted little time in naming a new Hinsdale South principal.

On Friday morning, the board named Kari Peronto, South's assistant principal for operations, as the new principal. Her salary will be $191,000, the district said.

Peronto, who started at the school two decades ago, is succeeding Principal Patrick Hardy. He is set to leave June 30 after two years to become the principal of Hampshire High School in Kane County.

The board named Peronto just nine days after the Algonquin-based School District 300 board, which oversees Hampshire, hired Hardy.

Peronto was already set to become assistant principal for instruction, replacing Eric Martzolf. He is departing after this school year to become principal of Lisle High School.

The board kept its intention to hire Peronto secret until a special meeting early Friday morning. A detailed news release was issued minutes later.

In 2004, Peronto started at Hinsdale South as a special education teacher and later served as director of student activities and dean of students.

She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Concordia University Chicago. She earned her master's degree in school leadership from Concordia. And she has her bachelor's in special education from Illinois State University.

According to the news release, Peronto oversaw all of South's building projects related to the 2019 referendum.

She is also the co-leader of South's Building Equity Action Team, a member of the district's calendar committee and a two-time Hornet Hero Award recipient.

Peronto previously coached varsity dance and sponsored the school's variety show.

"Kari has established herself as a widely respected administrator and a wonderful ambassador of the Hinsdale South community," board President Catherine Greenspon said in the news release. "Her previous roles at South will serve our students well as she works to ensure successful high school experiences for all of our Hornets. I cannot wait to see where she takes us."

Hardy is set to follow several District 86 officials who have left in recent months. Among them are interim Superintendent Linda Yonke, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Cheryl Moore, Communications Director Chris Jasculca, and school board members Kay Gallo and Debbie Levinthal.

Last June, the District 86 board ousted Superintendent Tammy Prentiss. In January, the board voted for a new superintendent, Michael Lach, who is set to start in July.