Charles Johns Named New Superintendent Of Glenbrook High Schools

GLENVIEW, IL — The Glenbrook High Schools District 225 board Monday announced Charles Johns would be its next superintendent, effective July 1.

Currently, Johns is superintendent of West Chicago Elementary District 33. He has previously been an assistant superintendent at Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 and an English teacher in Township High School District 214, where spent almost 20 years in various administrative roles.

“I really can't wait to start the process of getting to know the wonderful people in the Glenbrook school community,” Johns said. “As a leader, I deeply treasure the value of relationships, appreciating excellence and collaborating together on innovations and opportunities. Knowing that these are found in abundance in the Glenbrooks has me tremendously eager to get started.”

Johns emerged as the finalist after meeting with many outstanding candidates "because of his systematic approach to providing an equitable education to students,” Board President Skip Shein said in a release.

“He has demonstrated throughout a lengthy and diverse career in education that he has the ability to lead the Glenbrooks on the strong path that has been established and to help us on our efforts for continuous improvement," Shein said.

Superintendent Mike Riggle plans to retire at the end of the school year after more than 20 years in the district. He has been superintendent since July 2008. The board hired Libertyville-based search firm BWP Associates to assist with the candidate search last year. At the time, a district spokesperson said Riggle's replacement was expected to be named by early December.

After outside consultants provided seven potential candidates to be interviewed by the board, three finalists got a second interview with the board and committee of stakeholders. The district spokesperson did not disclose the identities of the other finalists.

Following the announcement of the district's next chief executive, the Feb. 11 board meeting was scheduled to consider the adoption of an operating budget for the 2019-20 school year, capital projects, student fees and changes to the Glenbrook North bell schedule.

Last month, a survey was sent to Glenbrook North students, parents and staff to inquire about pushing the school's start time back from 7:40 to 8 a.m. and ending 20 minutes later at 3:15 p.m. The adjustment would align the bell schedules of both Glenbrook high schools, which will become possible with changes to the school bus arrangement, according to a memo to the board from Glenbrook North Principal John Finan.

The results of the survey found parents were the most supportive of the change, with 75.3 percent of the 888 responses in favor of the later start. About 16 percent of parents were opposed and 9 percent reported having no preference. Students favored the change by a 52.1 percent to 38.6 percent margin, with slightly more than 9 percent of the 770 responses reporting no preference. Staff were the most ambivalent about the proposal, as 43.7 percent supported the change, 39.8 percent opposed it and 16.5 percent had no preference.

In comments along with the survey responses, both students and parents emphasized the need for increased opportunities for sleep. Both suggested the district consider starting later than 8 a.m.

Those opposed to the change expressed concerns about the high school's dismissal time aligning with District 30's Maple School. Though some students suggested a 20 minute change would have a minimal impact, some respondents worried students involved in after-school activities would get home later.

The recommended operating budget of more than $6.4 million across both schools is nearly 7 percent higher than last year's allocation. Glenbrook North's budget increased 7.22 percent to $2,765,105.65 and Glenbrook South increased by 6.72 percent to $3,669,779.38.

The board will also discuss issuing bids for additional summer capital projects. The district has about $1 million allocated to capital projects that are not funded through life safety bonds. This year, those include more than $600,000 for paving and concrete on campus as well as repairs to the pool deck. Administrators also want to relocate the athletic office at an estimated cost of $245,000 and spend $15,000 to build an office for the recently created security manager position.

A campus safety and security task force formed a year ago following a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, has suggested several upgrades to improve safety in the district, according to a memo to Riggle from Assistant Superintendent R.J. Gravel.

The committee recommended spending an estimated $1 million a transition from physical keys to electronic locks for all exterior and classroom doors, about $500,000 to repair poorly functioning or damaged doors and replace them with bulletproof glass and an estimated $180,000 to add concrete structures, which would be decorative, functional and protection "vulnerable areas" of campus.

The board was also due to consider recommendations to schedule make-up days for the four school days cancelled so far due to bad weather, starting with Presidents Day on Monday, according to a memo from Riggle to the board. Casimir Pulaski Day on March 4 would be a late arrival day. Class would be in session the Monday after spring break and all students, other than seniors, would be required to attend school after graduation on Friday, June 7.

The board is scheduled to discuss increases to school transportation fees at its Feb. 23 meeting.

More:

• Glenbrook High Schools Superintendent Announces Plans To Retire
• District 225 Hires Search Firm For Superintendent's Successor
• Glenbrook Schools Ranked Fourth In Cook County Suburbs
• GBS More Proficient At Science, GBN At English: Illinois Report Cards