Lake Bluff Elementary Principal Selection Process Nearing Completion

While a new Lake Bluff Elementary School principal could be introduced to the public at a school board meeting later this month, some parents have expressed concerns with the selection process.

Superintendent John Asplund said the hope is that the new principal, who will replace retiring Principal Katie Williams, will be announced at the April 26 board meeting.

At the board’s last meeting on March 22, however, two parents spoke during public comment and said there has been a lack of communication and a feeling that they have not been listened to during the principal search process.

“I just would like our voices to be heard,” parent Annie Atzeff said at the meeting. “We would like a collaborative effort, especially on important decisions."

Atzeff, who has three children in District 65 schools, said she participated in the principal selection committee. She said parents were brought in to ask the candidates questions and then interview the candidates.

“There was this general sentiment that … we really weren’t crazy about any of the candidates,“ said Atzeff. She added there was a “general frustration” amongst the parents involved.

“We sit on these committees where we’re window dressing and we’re tired of it,” said Atzeff. “We want to be involved.”

She also questioned why no internal candidates were considered for the Lake Bluff Elementary principal position.

“We do have people internally,” said Atzeff. “I think we should consider these people.”

Parent Jennifer Horan said the search process got off to a rocky start. She said just four weeks passed between Williams’ resignation and the start of candidate interviews.

“The process has been rushed,” said Horan. She added hiring from within may be a better option.

Asplund said parents’ voices were heard during the process, which began in February. He said the process began with 70 candidates, which was eventually whittled down through two rounds of interviews.

Asplund said in seeking a new principal, the district has been looking for “someone who is an active listener and team builder, someone whose first concern is always the children in his or her building, someone who can inspire greatness in others (and) a team player who can stand behind what they believe yet is willing to accept the input of others.”

“Parent input is crucial because they will be working directly, at times with the new principal,” said Asplund. “Their perspective is different from the internal public of faculty, staff, administration and board. It’s almost always best to get as much varied input as possible.”

During the first part of the selection and interview process, administration and school board members examined the applicants. The pool was whittled to six candidates. Then, parents and staff brought that number down to three candidates.

“They are most certainly being heard,” Asplund said of parents. “Sometimes frustration can occur when people advocate strongly for a position that isn’t completely shared by others. While parent input is crucial, it is only one piece of a larger feedback loop.”

“In a district that is as high performing as Lake Bluff, it isn’t unexpected to have individuals who will advocate very strongly for whatever position they hold.”

Board President Kim Burke said the purpose of public comment is to ensure the stakeholders in the community and school district are heard.

"As each meeting begins, the Board has no idea how many, if any, public comments will be forthcoming," said Burke. "For that reason, the Board simply listens. It does not engage in dialog or conversation with those making comments. Any concerns raised by employees and members of the public are taken under advisement and responded to at subsequent meetings, if appropriate."

Not all parents, however, have expressed the sentiment that they are not being heard.

, shared with Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch by parent Deb Dintruff, a group of 13 parents addressed a number of issues, including the principal search process.

Dintruff said the parents who have said their voices aren't being heard are definitely in the minority.

"It's a small group," said Dintruff. She said while a board member commented that "the community has spoken," she maintains "that's not the case at all."

While Dintruff's children are no longer in District 65 schools, she has a long history of serving on district committees. She was also president of the parent-teacher organization eight years ago.

"My perspective of it is very different," Dintruff said of the principal search process results. "We get opportunities to give feedback, but at the end of the day, the superintendent is Dr. Asplund and he names the principal."

While one parent at the March 22 meeting commented that the process has been too quick, Dintruff said a school district has to act quickly to get the best people.

"There is some urgency in that," said Dintruff.