Elmhurst D-205 Won't Expand Bureaucracy – For Now

ELMHURST, IL – The superintendent for Elmhurst School District 205 has decided against filling an assistant superintendent's position – at least for now.

In December, the district advertised for the position of assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. The district reviewed 80 applications and interviewed a dozen candidates.

But officials concluded they should not fill the position, Superintendent Keisha Campbell said in a memo to the school board this week.

"While the resumes and background of the candidates were impressive, it was clear that they were not 100% meeting the needs that we were currently looking to be met in District 205," Campbell said.

Instead, she said, the administration decided to restructure the duties in the district's learning and teaching department.

Campbell said the assistant superintendent's position has not been eliminated.

"(W)e will continue to evaluate our needs moving forward," she said.

In July, the district lost one of its four assistant superintendents when Scott Grens was promoted to interim associate superintendent. That position had been most recently filled a couple of years earlier.

At Tuesday's school board meeting, Campbell pointed to quotes from principals who indicated they liked the new arrangement.

"The new administrative reconfiguration provides our organization with a more streamlined approach to supporting principals in driving the important work in this district," York High School Principal Shahe Bagdasarian said in a statement.

Board member Athena Arvanitis said the superintendent's plan speaks to the strengths of the leadership team. She said she appreciated the ability to create more efficiency.

Board President Kara Caforio agreed, saying it took courage to go through interviews and then decide against hiring someone.

"I appreciate the people taking additional responsibility to cover that gap," she said.

The board unanimously approved the arrangement. Member Chris Kocinski was absent.