By Chris Fox
For The Elmhurst Independent
The Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board held three special meetings last week at the District 205 Center, 162 S. York St. Board members met briefly in open session during the meetings, which took place March 23, March 24 and March 25. The board went into closed session at each of the meetings, reportedly to interview the finalists in consideration to become the district’s next superintendent.
At the start of the March 24 meeting, Board President Kara Caforio referred to the district’s March 22 announcement that the board and outgoing District 205 Superintendent David Moyer had agreed that Moyer’s last day of work in the district would be Wednesday, March 31. Earlier this year, Moyer was named the next superintendent of the Arlington Central School District in New York. He will officially start that position on July 1. Moyer spent nearly six years as the superintendent of District 205.
Caforio noted during the March 24 meeting that District 205 and Moyer had developed a resignation agreement, which Moyer signed on March 22. Moments later, all seven board members voted to approve the agreement. Caforio explained that under the terms of the agreement, Moyer’s pay and benefits from the district will stop, with the exception of two items: the district will pay Moyer for his unused vacation, which Caforio stated is required by Illinois law; and Moyer’s current insurance coverage with the district will continue through June 30, 2021.
“The board reiterates its best wishes to Dr. Moyer and its appreciation for his dedication to increasing and improving learning opportunities for the students and staff of District 205,” stated Caforio just before the board voted to approve the resignation agreement.
Several speakers during the public-participation segment of the board’s March 16 regular meeting urged the board to immediately relieve Moyer of his duties as District 205’s superintendent.
At the start of the board’s March 25 special meeting, board members voted unanimously to approve an interim superintendent contract with Dr. Linda Yonke for the period from March 26 to June 30. That time frame could be shortened if the district’s new superintendent is able to start work before June 30.
Yonke’s workdays as interim superintendent will be determined in consultation with Caforio. Yonke will be paid $1,250 for each day worked without any benefits. Caforio said that pay rate is consistent with the daily rates of interim superintendents in top-performing districts.
“Dr. Yonke is a highly qualified leader and we are grateful to have her walk our community through this transition,” stated Caforio.
About Yonke
A former principal of York High School, Yonke served at York from 1998 to 2004. She went on to become the superintendent of New Trier Township High School District 203. She retired from that position in 2017.
Yonke is currently a representative of School Exec Connect, the search firm the district is paying to help find its next superintendent. Caforio noted during the March 25 meeting that the search firm’s work is “basically coming to a conclusion” in that process.
The district is on its spring break this week. The board is expected to announce the district’s next full-time superintendent during the week of April 5. The board will hold its next regular meeting on April 13.
