Illinois Education Association Minooka Region issued the following announcement on Jan. 18.
Glen Ellyn Education Association (GEEA) Co-presidents Dina Sbarra and Tracy Guerrieri released the following statements after Glen Ellyn School District 41 announced today that the district will conduct a national search for a new superintendent and will announce the search firms at the board meeting Mon., Jan. 21. The announcement comes after more than 100 GEEA members, parents and students rallied in support of Dr. Paul Gordon on Mon., Oct. 15.
“We are disappointed in the board’s decision to move in this direction. Dr. Gordon has turned the tide for public education in District 41,” said Sbarra. “His leadership has shown proven results in our schools, and his support for our students and our educators is unparalleled. The board’s decision shows they do not have the best interests of our students in mind.”
Since he started in 2013, Dr. Gordon has turned the tide for public education in District 41. His accomplishments include reducing the student achievement gap and reaching 77 percent of his long-term goals this year.
“In Illinois, all school board members now have to pledge to support students when they take the school board oath. It’s disappointing to see that our board has failed to make good on that pledge by dragging their feet on the search process,” said Guerrieri. “We’ve lost out on a champion for our students, and every day they delayed starting this search meant another good candidate gone. We expect that the board will continue the practice of including all stakeholders in the decision-making process.”
Dr. Gordon’s contract is up at the end of this school year; however, the District 41 Board of Education (BOE) intends to announce a national search to replace him. In previous searches, the district held focus groups throughout the process, involving all stakeholders in choosing a superintendent, together.
GEEA members and parents will pack the BOE meeting Mon., Jan. 21 at 5 p.m. The meeting will be held at District 41 Central Services Office (793 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn). During the BOE meeting, the GEEA will present the board with a letter expressing concern over the board’s decision not to renew Dr. Gordon’s contract and to start a national search.
Original source can be found here.
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