D303 School Board To Evaluate Superintendent

At the February 11, 2019 School Board Meeting, president Kathy Hewell stated that in March the board would evaluate the superintendent. The school board’s responsibility is to employ and evaluate the superintendent. The board’s understanding and evaluation of the superintendent’s contract is important because it determines the expectations and outcomes for students in our district.

Here is what IL school code 105 ILCS 5/10-23.8 says regarding superintendent contracts.

“school districts may only employ a superintendent...under either a contract for a period not exceeding one year or a performance-based contract for a period not exceeding 5 years.
Performance-based contracts shall be linked to student performance and academic improvement within the schools of the districts. No performance-based contract shall be extended or rolled-over prior to its scheduled expiration unless all the performance and improvement goals contained in the contract have been met. Each performance-based contract shall include the goals and indicators of student performance and academic improvement determined and used by the local school board to measure the performance and effectiveness of the superintendent and such other information as the local school board may determine.”

In April of 2016, the board signed a performance based, multi-year contract (3 years) with the superintendent (Dr. Pearson Signed Contract ). On page 7 of the contract under Superintendent Goals section F part 3 of Dr. Pearson's contract, it states that annually, the Superintendent will "report to the Board on his findings as to (i) student performance and (ii) recommendations, if any, for curriculum or instructional changes as a result of his evaluation of student performance.” Dr. Pearson's contract then states that “The presentation of the report shall constitute the achievement of the goals and indicators of student performance and academic improvement as required by 105 ILCS 5/10-23.8 of the School Code.”

The superintendent contract indicates that a presentation of the annual achievement report constitutes the achievement of the goals and indicators required for a performance based, multi-year contract. These goals and indicators are not included as part of the contract or as a signed and dated attachment to the contract. Other districts like Indian Prairie D204 (D204 Superintendent Contract) have performance based, multi-year contracts with signed goals attached as an addendum. According to IL school code, in order for the board to extend or roll over a multi-year contract before its expiration, all performance and improvement goals must be met. Presentation of the annual report does not mean accomplishment of goals and indicators as the contract language suggests.

Board members and administrators were on the hiring team for the superintendent back in 2016 and agreed to the language in the contract that states presenting the report is accomplishing. Many community members would like the superintendent contract language changed to include specific goals and indicators for performance and improvement for grades K-12. Citizens for D303 Accountability Citizens for D303 Accountability group will be watching as the board discusses the results of the superintendent evaluation and future plans.