By Chris Fox
For The Elmhurst Independent
The Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board held a regular meeting on April 13 at the District 205 Center, 162 S. York St. All seven board members attended the meeting.
The April 13 meeting included Dr. Linda Yonke, who became the district’s interim superintendent on April 1. In late March, the board announced that outgoing superintendent David Moyer’s last day with the district would be March 31. Moyer, who was District 205’s superintendent for nearly six years, was named the next superintendent of the Arlington Central School District in New York earlier this year. He will officially begin in that position on July 1.
At the beginning of the April 13 meeting, District 205 Board President Kara Caforio announced that Dr. Keisha Campbell is District 205’s next superintendent. Caforio referred to Campbell’s more than 20 years of professional experience, which includes time as a classroom teacher and an elementary and middle school principal. Campbell is currently the director of school leadership with the Academy for Urban School Leadership in Chicago, a network of 31 schools with over 16,000 students. The Academy for Urban School Leadership is a private organization that partners with Chicago Public Schools, along with other districts around the nation.
“She received excellent reviews after engaging with multiple stakeholder groups, and was chosen by the board of education as the candidate best suited to lead District 205’s next chapter,” stated Caforio in referring to Campbell and the process to select the district’s next superintendent.
Caforio also referred to Campbell’s connection to the district as both a student and a parent.
“Dr. Campbell, as a graduate of Bryan Middle School and York High School, and a current parent of two District 205 students, is deeply committed to the continued success and forward movement of our district,” said Caforio.
Campbell will officially begin her role as District 205’s superintendent on July 1.
“I’m excited, and I am so ready to take this journey along with you all,” said Campbell in her brief remarks at the April 13 board meeting. “As a graduate of both Bryan Middle School and York High School—Go Dukes—as well as now a parent, this is an absolute dream come true, and I am honored and deeply grateful. Thank you.”
Each of Caforio’s six colleagues on the board spoke to congratulate Campbell and welcome her as the district’s next superintendent. Board member Karen Stuefen said there were hundreds of applicants for the position. Board member Courtenae Trautmann referred to the rigorous selection process, which included interviews with district administrators, teachers and community members.
Shortly after each board member spoke, the board voted unanimously to approve Campbell as the district’s new superintendent. Campbell and the board agreed to a three-year, performance based contract that begins on July 1 of this year and runs through June 30, 2024. Under the terms of the contract, Campbell’s annual base salary in the first year of the contract will be $225,000.
Public forum topics include in-person learning, feeling isolated
The meeting’s public-participation segment took place immediately after the board voted to approve the contract with Campbell. There were two speakers during the segment, including a sixth-grade student at Sandburg Middle School who referred to the district’s resumption of five days a week of full in-person school days on April 12. The student told the board that teachers in the classroom speak to their computers, not the students in the classroom. The student said that a teacher would spend time talking to two students learning remotely, and not speak with the approximately 28 students who were in the classroom. The student also spoke of feeling lonely and isolated at lunchtime, when students are not allowed to face each other.
Presentation on bond sales given
The meeting also included a presentation about a proposal to sell bonds this year. Elizabeth Hennessy, a managing director at Raymond James and an advisor to the district, delivered a remote presentation. Hennessy noted that this year’s proposed bond sale was related to the referendum of November 2018, when voters approved the borrowing of up to $168.5 million. Hennessy stated that the first issue of bonds related to that referendum was a $60 million sale in July 2019. The next bond issue related to the referendum was a $40 million sale in November 2020. Hennessy referred to the low interest-rate environment in which the district made its first two bond issues related to the referendum of November 2018. She said the proposal for 2021 called for an issue of $15 million. If the board approves the proposal at its April 27 meeting, Hennessy said the bonds would be issued in May. Hennessy noted that the final issue of bonds related to the 2018 referendum would be a $53.5 million issue in 2023.
Renovations at The Abbey discussed
The April 13 meeting also featured a presentation about renovations at the property known as The Abbey, which is located at 407 W. St. Charles Road, just west of York High School. In late 2020, District 205 finalized plans to purchase the property from the Elmhurst Park District for $1.6 million. The district will utilize the site as the permanent home of its York High School Transition Center. The district’s Transition Center program helps students with disabilities between the ages of 18-22. The district currently rents a facility in downtown Elmhurst for its Transition Center program. Craig Siepka of the district’s architecture firm—Wight & Company, gave the presentation. He told the board that his firm’s work on the property mostly involved interior renovations.
Board weighs COVID-19 metrics, risk factors
The meeting also included a discussion related to COVID-19 metrics and risk factors. Yonke and other administrators noted the district’s April 12 return to five full days of in-person learning per week, with lunch periods, at all grade levels. According to information provided by the district, more than 90 percent of the district’s staff members have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Yonke stated that the district does not have a choice in following COVID-19 related quarantine procedures. The district, she said, is required to follow guidelines that are mainly set by the DuPage County Health Department. The district is required to follow the rules set by the most local agency. If the DuPage County Health Department does not have any regulations about a specific policy, the district would have to follow the regulations set by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The board will hold its next regular meeting on April 27.
