Consultants present superintendent profile after community forums and 162-survey responses

Representatives from School Exec Connect briefed the Board of Education of Homewood School District 153 on Sept. 15 on a recruitment profile for the district's next superintendent, summarizing input from focus groups, open forums and an online survey.

Kevin O'Meara, president and owner of School Exec Connect, said the firm conducted targeted stakeholder focus groups and two open forums and collected survey responses. "41 people participated in the focus groups and open forums. A 162 responded to the survey," O'Meara said. He said the consultants asked participants to identify strengths, challenges and early priorities for the next superintendent and produced a proprietary candidate profile for the board's use.

The consultants reported consistent strengths: a "strong supportive culture" and active community support for programs such as STEM, high staff retention and pride in the district's schools. Noted challenges included fiscal stress, facility needs, enrollment decline, perceptions of past fiscal mismanagement, strained staff morale related to contract issues and growing special education and English-learner populations.

O'Meara said stakeholders prioritized relationship-building in a new superintendent and expected immediate attention to fiscal concerns, upcoming contract negotiations and special education services. "Early priorities will include addressing special education issues and responsiveness, strengthening staff morale, and clarifying systems of communication for parents and staff," he said.

Survey highlights cited by the consultants included respondent demographics (57% identified as parents and 31% as staff), and that 70% of respondents listed the quality of teaching staff as a top strength. O'Meara said the profile describes the district as "highly supportive, family-oriented" and recommends a visible, approachable leader with instructional and financial acumen and a commitment to equity.

Process notes: O'Meara said the firm assured participants their comments in closed sessions were confidential. The presentation concluded with consultants providing the board a packet of materials to inform recruitment, screening and selection.

Board reaction: Board members thanked the consultants and said they would review the material in depth. Several board members noted the profile aligned with their expectations for district priorities.

Action: No formal vote was required; the presentation provides recruitment guidance and a candidate profile for ongoing selection work.