Elmhurst D-205 Hires $800-A-Day Consultant

ELMHURST, IL — The Elmhurst school board on Tuesday approved the hiring of an $800-a-day consultant to handle the duties of an assistant superintendent's position.

At a board meeting, Keisha Campbell, superintendent of Elmhurst School District 205, recommended the board approve a contract with her former colleague, Jarvis Sanford.

Campbell did not say how many days a week Sanford would work for the school district.

At Campbell's recommendation, the board in July promoted Scott Grens, assistant superintendent of innovation and systems management, to interim associate superintendent.

Because of this, Campbell said she was recommending the district enter a "teaching and learning" consultant contract with Sanford. He is assigned to provide support for the teaching and learning department, she said.

Meanwhile, Campbell said, the district would launch a search for a new assistant superintendent, with the expectation that one would be hired by spring.

Sanford has been a school principal and a managing director at the Chicago-based Academy of Urban School Leadership. Before becoming superintendent in July, Campbell was the director of school leadership with the academy. It is a nonprofit group with a network of 31 Chicago public schools with more than 16,000 students.

Campbell said the year-long contract with Sanford could be ended at any time.

Board member Courtenae Trautmann said she appreciated the flexibility in the agreement.

School board President Kara Caforio said she was glad the district was taking time to find a high quality candidate for the assistant superintendent's job.

The board voted unanimously for the contract. Members Chris Kocinski and Karen Stuefen were absent.