A New Top Position In D-205 Hierarchy?

ELMHURST, IL — The Elmhurst School District 205 board is set to vote Wednesday on an interim associate superintendent, but it's unclear why.

The district has not employed an associate superintendent in the last couple of years. It now has four assistant superintendents — Scott Grens, Luke Pavone, Kevin Rubenstein and Christopher Whelton. All were listed on the district's website as of Tuesday.

The board's meeting agenda for Wednesday includes the item for the hiring of an interim associate superintendent, but gives no other information, including the name of the person or the salary.

Patch contacted the district's spokeswoman for information Monday, but she did not provide any.

It's possible one of the four assistant superintendents or someone else in the district could be promoted to the post, thus not adding a top administrative position to the central office. Until 2019, the district employed an associate superintendent for learning and teaching, in addition to three assistant superintendents.

On July 1, Keisha Campbell, an Elmhurst resident and York High School graduate, started as superintendent.

In the past, the board has debated whether the district should add high-paying administrative positions. During a 2019 closed meeting, member Karen Stuefen opposed an administrative reorganization under then-Superintendent Dave Moyer. She said it wasn't right to have "such large titles, so many of them, more than other districts, and they have more people and employees they have to manage."

Local watchdog Edgar Pal was able to get the audio of the meeting after the district settled his lawsuit alleging the district violated the Open Meetings Act. The board can discuss specific employees behind closed doors, but not general personnel matters such as administrative reorganizations.