'Big Hire' Subject Of Hinsdale D86 Debate

HINSDALE, IL – The Hinsdale High School District 86 board decided last week to pay an outside group to help search for a new assistant superintendent.

But board member Jeff Waters voted against the move. He said he wanted to wait until newly elected board members are seated in early May.

In June, Chris Covino, assistant superintendent for academics for the last three years, is leaving to become the superintendent of La Grange School District 102.

The District 86 board agreed to pay the Illinois Association of School Boards about $9,000 to search for candidates. That process also includes looking for those interested in the position on an interim basis – likely retired school administrators.

"This is a big hire. We want to make sure we're doing this above board, transparent and that nobody has a personal agenda," said Cheryl Moore, assistant superintendent for human resources.

In the last few years, the job of assistant superintendent for academics has been at the center of controversial issues such as curriculum, grading and inequity of course offerings between Central and South high schools.

Board President Erik Held said it made the most sense to fill the job permanently. Such a person, he said, would know that "their career is riding" on performance.

"If someone is retired, then that's not necessarily going to be their goal to get a renewed contract in a year or two years' time," Held said. "Their goal is to collect their check and do the minimum to get by. This is not a district to do the minimum to get by."

Board member Debbie Levinthal said she knows retired administrators who would dedicate themselves to the mission in an interim job.

"I can't be a party to disparaging retired people who come in and take these interim positions," she said.

Waters called for waiting until three new board members take office. That would mean the job would be filled on an interim basis for at least a year and possibly two if the board waits until after a new superintendent is appointed. (Superintendent Tammy Prentiss is set to retire July 31, 2024.)

Held said the new board, which takes office May 3, would choose the assistant superintendent in any case. He suggested the district seek the feedback of the board members-elect after next Tuesday's election.

The board voted 5-1 for hiring the school board association for the search. Member Kathleen Hirsman was absent.