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Oak Park ESD 97 narrows superintendent search to six proposals; board outlines rubric and community engagement plan
Summary
Board members reported six proposals for superintendent search services and described a rubric emphasizing experience, district understanding, recruitment strategy, equity focus and timeline. The board said a search firm will lead outreach and that internal candidates may apply.
Board members updated the Oak Park ESD 97 community on the district's superintendent search process, describing six proposals and a rubric the board used to evaluate firms.
"By the October 3, we did receive, 5 proposals total. 6 proposals total total we can cash," said Dr. Pratt during the update. The firms the board named in the recorded discussion included School Exec Connect, the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), Educational Leadership Solutions, BW and Associates and other proposals received by the stated deadline.
Board members said they scored proposals across roughly 10 components in a rubric: experience and track record; understanding district needs and producing a candidate profile; recruitment strategies and diversity of the candidate pool; community engagement; candidate screening and vetting; equity work; communication and transparency; timeline and project management; cost and value; and post-hire support.
Board members described ranges they observed in proposals recorded in the meeting. Most timelines aimed to conclude by February, with one firm proposing a March completion. Fee estimates discussed in the update ranged roughly from about $10,000 on the low end to about $19,000 on the high end; board members said those figures were taken from the proposals and were not read as a definitive district commitment in the meeting record. Post-hire support varied by firm, with some offering guaranteed support for a period such as the first 100 days.
One board member noted the search firm is being retained because the district lacks the internal capacity to run a full search while maintaining other responsibilities, but internal applicants may still apply. "Everyone has an opportunity to apply," a board member said, and the board said it expects the selected firm to organize opportunities for community input, including helping to develop a candidate profile and possibly participating in candidate reviews.
Board members emphasized the importance of community engagement and an equity-centered profile. "So understanding community needs is really, for me, really important," said Miss Lauren.
The board said it will publish a timeline and work plan once the firm is selected and that the firm will lead many aspects of public outreach and candidate vetting. No final firm selection or contract award was recorded in the portion of the meeting captured in the transcript.
