Staff retention, academic achievement and transparent leadership emerged as top priorities in District 205’s superintendent search as the school board reviewed community survey results Monday night.
Board President Courtney Rodriguez said 317 people responded to the district’s superintendent survey, which the board plans to use to help shape its search for the district’s next leader.
Survey respondents identified staffing and retention, academic achievement, and meeting the needs of a diverse student population as the district’s top challenges.
According to the survey, respondents said the next superintendent should be transparent and ethical, collaborative and team-oriented, and student-centered.
“The data that we have collected, we are very appreciative of the people that did the survey,” Rodriguez said during the meeting. “We will use that to build a leadership profile” for interviewing candidates.
With Superintendent John Asplund set to retire in June 2027, District 205 has begun the search for the district’s next leader.
Rodriguez said the board plans to conduct the search internally rather than immediately hire an outside search firm because members believe they have the resources to manage the process themselves.
“We’re all committed to do it because that’s the most important job that we have to do as a board,” Rodriguez said.
She said the board could still seek outside assistance later if needed.
Rodriguez said the board hopes to interview candidates in the fall and make a hire by early winter. The goal, she said, is to have the next superintendent in place while Asplund is still with the district.
The district is accepting applications through Aug. 1, but Rodriguez said the district will not publicly release the number of applicants, citing privacy concerns.
Rodriguez said the board intends to keep the process transparent and remains open to public questions and feedback.
“We’re not keeping anything a secret,” Rodriguez said during the meeting. “We’re doing the best of our abilities to what we can do. We’re utilizing our resources.”
Board members also approved several items carried over from previous meetings.
Among them was the fiscal 2026 amended budget. Natalie Thompson, administrative assistant for finance and operations, said the amendment includes an approximately $515,000 increase in the education fund, primarily because of private facility tuition tied to therapeutic placements, along with a $415,953 increase for Chromebooks, teacher laptops and cases.
The board also approved a $5 million line of credit with CBI Bank & Trust for the district’s five-year capital projects program. The loan carries a 4.54 percent interest rate, with 20 quarterly payments of $281,362 and an option for early repayment without penalty.
Board members approved summer 2026 parking lot renovation bids that include resealing the high school student parking lot and replacing the rear parking lot at the district office, 940 W. Fremont St., with concrete. Andrew Steck, the district’s director of operations, said the work is expected to be completed by July 31.
The board also approved property and casualty and workers’ compensation insurance renewals through Prairie State Insurance Cooperative. Jennifer Hamm, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, said property and casualty coverage increased 4 percent to $576,109, while workers’ compensation coverage increased 9 percent to $412,252.
Board members approved a five-year agreement with Centegix, a safety platform that includes badge alert systems, visitor management and a tardy kiosk program. Hamm said the system will replace the district’s current visitor management and tardy kiosk systems while adding another layer of security.
The board also approved a technology infrastructure plan to move the district from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 7 and upgrade wireless access, switching and fiber infrastructure. According to district materials, the project carries a total cost of $1.26 million before E-rate reimbursement and a district cost of $607,610.51 after reimbursement.
