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Parents and staff demand transparency in Cook County SD 130 superintendent search
Summary
Multiple parents, staff and union leaders urged the Cook County SD 130 board to be transparent about the superintendent search, press for staff and community input and consider internal candidates; the board president said the board has not yet met the search firm and provided no timeline.
Public commenters at the Cook County SD 130 board meeting on May 19 pressed trustees for more transparency and for meaningful staff and community involvement in the district's superintendent search.
Kate Lanford, who identified herself as secretary for buildings and grounds and safety, warned the board about the risks of an extended outside search, saying it can cause uncertainty and staff turnover. "Some people don't like Carrie Tish. I happen to think she's amazing," Lanford said, urging the board to consider internal candidates who know the district and its people.
Several other speakers echoed calls for communication and participation. Ran Canella Zman, a retired District 130 teacher, asked to serve on a search committee and urged the board to incorporate staff, family and student input, citing neighboring districts as examples of more visible search processes. Mary Slom raised a transparency concern after a FOIA request produced no records of alleged communications related to a March 18 special meeting, telling the board: "Situations like this erode public trust and raise questions under the Illinois Open Meetings Act."
Board leadership described the current status of the search as preliminary. The board president told attendees that the board had not yet met with the outside search firm and that meeting dates were being sought for June. "Right now, we don't have a timeline for that in this moment," the president said, and promised to notify the board and public once meetings with the firm are scheduled.
Why it matters: The superintendent selection is one of the board's most consequential decisions, affecting district leadership, staff morale and community confidence. Multiple speakers at the meeting tied the need for transparency to retention, trust and the district's public image.
What happens next: The board president said she is arranging meetings with the search firm in June and will provide updates afterward. Attendees asked that the board consider a standing agenda item providing consistent public updates on the search process.
Ending: The board did not set a timeline at the meeting and did not take a formal vote on the search process; public commenters said they will continue to press for visibility into the decision.
