Illinois School Board Journal July/August 2024 by IASB Publications

July/August 2024 Vol. 92 No. 4

Summer Reading

Your Views: Member Survey Report New Summertime Administrator Salaries Following Up on Headline Topics

Front Page

II’ve recently finished a 20-year career as a public school parent. My oldest started kindergarten in 2004; my middle was a member of the star-crossed Class of 2020; and my youngest graduated from high school in May of 2024. My kids were, over the years, involved in everything a small, suburban P-12 school district could offer –except tennis – and as parents we organized carnivals, worked concessions, built playgrounds, decorated hallways, joined committees, created opportunities for students to experience STEM, and took thousands of photographs.

Although parental pride – and happy tears – were constants, my kids’ three graduation ceremonies were vastly different. We were inside an overflowing but serene auditorium for graduation in 2017. In 2020, each graduate brought their own exuberance into an otherwise empty auditorium in a bittersweet, makeshift ceremony. Finally, we enjoyed the end of our run with a radiant and brilliant outdoor evening celebration of the Class of 2024.

In 2014, I began working for IASB, bringing school board members this, the Illinois School Board Journal. Amidst all of these experiences, I’ve seen some of the best of what public education can do for the students they educate

and the communities they serve. And I’ve been fortunate to share some of that “best” with you.

This July/August Journal, like many summertime issues, brings a variety of information to readers. Our regular Administrator Salaries series moves from the winter to the summer to allow us to present the most current data in a more timely manner. We also report to you some insights gained in the 2025 Member Survey. Many of you took the time to complete, and that time is appreciated as we use the information to improve IASB’s products and services in the future.

The Journal aims to provide school board members with information and insights to be effective in the governance role. We understand, and try to help you help your communities understand, the roles you undertake and the challenges you face. Your imperative is to govern, responsibly and with honor and fidelity to your community. The board deals on one level with school district visions and goals, and fundamental issues that require the wisdom and decision-making of a group of seven people who look at the whole — not just at pieces or the issue of the day. On another level, you work in policy, providing governance directives to the district at all times.

We understand that school board members are volunteers who wish to do the best job possible for school and community. You may have little or no formal instruction or experience in education or government. There are demands such as families and careers or vocations, in addition to school district governance. IASB tries to present to you material that is accessible and relevant. Understanding that, I’d like to ask two things of the readers of the Journal

One, if there is a topic you need to know more about, please let me know. Be it in the Journal or in the wider work of the Association, we aim to be responsive to the needs and questions our members have.

Two, if there is a topic you already know more about, and would like to share that knowledge with our readers, please let me know. The Illinois School Board Journal is always seeking compelling and relevant stories about today’s important public education issues, and we will work with you take make that happen, and keep our readers informed.

Thanks for reading, and have a great summer.

Therese Kelly Gegen is Director of Communications/Editorial Services for IASB and Editor of the Illinois School Board Journal.

9 Administrator Salaries: Fast-Moving Data

By Theresa Kelly Gegen

Get the latest numbers for superintendents, principals, and other administrators as the Journal moves its popular Administrator Salaries Series to the summer, so the most relevant data can be used in a timely manner.

17 The Latest On …

By Theresa Kelly Gegen

Food for thought, advocacy in action, the “old Normal,” and more. Read some updates to topics we’ve covered in the Illinois School Board Journal in the past year or so.

22 Shining a Light on Survey Results

By Theresa Kelly Gegen

As promised, IASB reports on responses from the 2024 Member Survey, in which school board members, district superintendents, and administrative professionals were invited to assess their satisfaction and to prioritize what topics are most important.

Kara Kienzler, Associate Executive Director

Theresa Kelly Gegen, Editor

Bridget Kusturin, Advertising Manager

Jennifer Nelson, Copy Editor

Katie Grant, Design and Production

Matt Schultz, Design and Layout

ILLINOIS SCHOOL BOARD JOURNAL (ISSN-0019-221X) is published every other month by the Illinois Association of School Boards, 2921 Baker Drive, Springfield, Illinois 62703-5929 (217) 528-9688. The IASB regional office is located at One Imperial Place, 1 East 22nd Street, Lombard, Illinois 60148-6120 (630) 629-3776.

The JOURNAL is supported by the dues of school boards holding active membership in the Illinois Association of School Boards. Copies are mailed to all school board members and the superintendent in each IASB member school district.

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Copyright © 2024 by the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), the JOURNAL is published six times a year and is distributed to its members and subscribers. Copyright in this publication, including all articles and editorial information contained in it is exclusively owned by IASB, and IASB reserves all rights to such information. IASB is a tax-exempt corporation organized in accordance with section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

ASo Many Hats and Only One Head: The Life of a School Board Member

By Natalie Williams-McMahon

As a school board member in Illinois, there are many hats to wear: parent, community member, professional roles, friend, leader of a district, and more.

How do we separate and balance them all?

This summer, we at IASB encourage you to practice the balancing act of the many hats you wear.

Before you became a board member, you were a leader in many other aspects, yet when you became a board member for your district, you realized the importance of this role and you must indeed learn to compartmentalize your life. This is often discussed in meetings; typically this discussion comes up in IASB’s “Starting Right” workshop, where boards learn their roles and responsibilities and how to separate them from other roles – and the many hats we wear.

You may ask yourself

• “How do I show up as just Mom/Dad vs. as a school board member?”

• “How do I not cross the line in my dual role as a leader and/or educator in one of your district’s schools, while being on the Board?”

• “How do I express my concerns as a community member vs. being on the board that represents all children?”

• And of course, many more questions and best practice situations arise.

According to educator J.D. Copeland, the hats that leaders of school districts wear are prioritized by these categories: Manage, Plan, Listen, Communicate, and Community Involvement. Therefore, it is essential to utilize these aspects for whichever hat you wear. Here are some helpful tips on how you can balance the many hats you wear.

Manage

Prioritize by consciously choosing the top three things that need to be done as a parent, during your role on your job, as a community member, as a board member. This will allow you to set standards and boundaries between the hats that you wear. In addition, it will allow you to manage daily duties under each hat. For example:

• Parent: Create time blocks for meals, homework, and activities.

• Board Member: Create time blocks for reading packets, listing questions to the superintendent, and visiting a school in your district.

Plan

Plan for those top three things for the sake of time and schedules. This will allow you to not only compartmentalize but also to be present and fully engaged as you change from hat to hat. For example:

• Professional Role: Plan your work duties according to importance (due dates, project completion, etc.) during work hours.

• Board Member: Cross-check personal and professional schedules to make sure they don’t conflict with board meetings, planned school visits, or board workshops.

Listen

Take note and listen to those around you as you wear the hat of a parent, community member, board member, etc. This skill is important because it will allow you to lead as a board member; making sure that you are listening to all at the table as you plan with your fellow board members to make decisions

wholeheartedly, for the benefit of the people whom you govern in your district. For example:

• Community Member: Listen to trends around topics that your community is facing in which you will be a part of the decision-making process.

• Board Member: If on your board’s agenda, Discuss the topic with fellow board members and listen to other perspectives, research, and data that will help you make the best decision/vote.

Communicate

Communication is one of the most important skills to utilize on any team, wearing any hat. It allows opportunities to learn, collaborate, and team build. Practicing aligned communication styles helps the opportunity to ask questions and gain clarity, therefore allowing the execution and completion of goals. For example:

• Superintendent: Communicate goals, plans, and data. Communicate needs and recommendations, and why they are important to help the students in your district.

• Board Member: Communicate with your fellow board members the knowledge you have or the knowledge you are seeking to help make the best decisions when you are to vote on a Superintendent’s recommendation.

Community Involvement

Maintain your community involvement and connections, even with your different roles. For example:

• Teacher: Try to be a part of your schools’ universal teams, complete surveys, and collaborate across content, teams, and other schools.

• Board Member: Observe and listen to all voices in your community, note trends, and discuss with your board team. This will allow your board team to make the best decisions based on the needs of your community.

I hope these tips help you as you wear each beautiful hat. We at IASB encourage you to take time to identify, practice, and continue to balance as you go through life as a school board member. And wear your hats proudly! 

Natalie Williams-McMahon, Ed.D. is IASB Field Services Director for the South Cook, Three Rivers, and West Cook divisions. Resources associated with this column can be accessed via iasb.com/Journal.

IASB Board of Directors

As of June 15, 2024

PRESIDENT

Mark Harms

VICE PRESIDENT

Tracie Sayre

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Simon Kampwerth Jr.

TREASURER

Marc Tepper

ABE LINCOLN

Christopher Gordon

BLACKHAWK

Jeff Johnson

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

VALLEY

Tim Custis

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Jianan Shi

CORN BELT

Nick Sartoris

DUPAGE

Thomas Ruggio

EGYPTIAN

Lisa Irvin

ILLINI

Kimberly KenileyAshbrook

KASKASKIA

Linda Eades

KISHWAUKEE

Robert Geddeis

LAKE

Marc Tepper

NORTH COOK

Alva Kreutzer

NORTHWEST

Chris Buikema

SHAWNEE

Sheila Nelson

SOUTH COOK

Joyce Dickerson

SOUTHWESTERN

Mark Christ

STARVED ROCK

Jim McCabe

THREE RIVERS

Liz Campbell

TWO RIVERS

Lisa Schwartz

WABASH VALLEY

Mandy Rieman

WEST COOK

Janice Roeder

WESTERN

Sue McCance

SERVICE

ASSOCIATES

Stephen Nelson

The vision of the Illinois Association of School Boards is excellence in local school board governance supporting quality public education.

The mission of the Illinois Association of School Boards is to Light the Way for its members by developing their competence and conﬁdence through a robust toolkit designed to build excellence in local school board governance, including

• Premier training experiences;

• Networking opportunities for mutual support;

• Valuable beneﬁts, pooled services, information, and expertise;

• Advocacy on behalf of public education; and

• A platform for a strong collective voice on common interests and concerns.

TIASB Offers Books for School Leader Readers

By Kara Kienzler

The Illinois Association of School Boards offers books that can be valuable to any school district or board member library. These publications help IASB fulfill its mission, which includes “Valuable benefits, pooled services, information, and expertise.”

Many IASB-published titles have been recently updated, and the new editions are now available at iasb.com/bookstore.

Illinois School Code and Related Laws is compiled by LexisNexis for IASB and includes the Illinois School Code and other statutes selected for relevance to public school governance and administration. The new edition covers legislation enacted as of January 1, 2024, including selected election and pension laws, Educational Labor Relations Act, Open Meetings Act, Freedom of Information Act, Disclosure of Economic Interests, Truth in Taxation Act, Local Records Act, Personnel Record Review Act, Prevailing Wage Act, Emancipation of Mature Minors Act, Tort Immunity Act, Gift Ban Act, and School Visitation Rights Act.

The new edition consists of two volumes. Volume 1 contains the School Code. Volume 2 contains numerous other statutes selected for their relevance to public school

governance and administration. An index for both Volumes is included in Volume 2. Previous editions were offered with a midterm supplement. For 2024, Illinois School Code and Related Laws will not be supplemented because IASB offers other, free publications to serve the purpose: “New School Laws,” a digest of state laws impacting Illinois public schools enacted each year, and a “Guide to Illinois Statutes Affecting Schools,” which is compiled by the Illinois Council of School Attorneys and serves as a reference tool for Illinois statutes that are not listed in the School Code but affect Illinois school districts. Both publications can be accessed from the IASB website.

Also recently published is the 18th edition of the Illinois School Law Survey. The Survey for 2024-2026 presents answers to more than 1,600 questions in 27 chapters, along with a list of the statutes, rules, and court cases on which each answer is based. Questions and answers have been updated to reflect legislation and court decisions from the two years up to January 1, 2024, and questions have been added to cover new statutes and case law.

Each print book purchase of the Illinois School Law Survey includes access to a dynamic digital version of the book, with a keyword-searchable tool that allows you to quickly find the information you need. It also includes links to cited court cases and federal laws, as well as Illinois statutes, rules, and more.

The Illinois School Law Survey was originated by the late Brian A. Braun, an attorney with the firm of Miller, Tracy, Braun, Funk & Miller, Ltd., who was the creator and editor from 1983 to 2023. Prior to that, Braun was an attorney on the staff of IASB. The book is now authored by Brian’s son, David J. Braun, an attorney with the firm of Miller, Tracy, Braun, Funk & Miller, Ltd., and a member of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys.

Also updated in 2024 and published by IASB is Essentials of Illinois School Finance: A Guide to Techniques, Issues, and Resources by James Fritts with Senior Editor Ann Williams.

Essentials of Illinois School Finance is a practical and informative guide for school administrators, business managers, budget makers, and anyone impacted by school finance. Details help

school board members understand the financial management work of administrative staff and the board’s responsibilities in maintaining the district’s fiscal health. Key information is presented in three sections.

Part One emphasizes budgeting and management of revenues and describes the workings of the state’s Evidence-Based Funding formula.

Part Two addresses the budgeting and management of expenditures and describes ways to assess a district’s overall financial health.

Part Three describes the school board’s financial responsibilities and how the board can fulfill its leadership responsibilities for the school district’s financial health.

IASB offers many other titles for school leaders in its bookstore, including these published by the Association:

• Coming to Order: A Guide to Successful School Board Meetings (2023)

• Effective School Board Member (2023)

• Collective Bargaining and the Illinois School Board Member (2021) by Ronald R. Booth and edited by the late Brian A. Braun

In addition to the publications listed above, school leaders looking for even more to read can visit www.iasb.com/about-us/publications/ for a wide variety of free resources that are compiled, published, and maintained by IASB for Illinois school board members and education leaders. 

Kara Kienzler is IASB’s Associate Executive Director for Communications and Production Services.

IASB Administration and Sta

As of June 15, 2024

OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kimberly A. Small, Executive Director

Jeremy Duff y, Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel

Tulsi Srinivasan, HR Director

Chris Montrey, Admin. Assistant INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Chris Lawton, Director

Patrick Shea, Assistant Manager

EXECUTIVE SEARCHES

Patricia Sullivan-Viniard, Director

Carmen Ayala, Consultant

Tim Buss, Consultant

Jim Helton, Consultant

Dave Love, Consultant

Alan Molby, Consultant

Vic Zimmerman, Consultant

Mary Torgler, Admin. Assistant

OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL

Jeremy Duff y, General Counsel and Deputy Executive Director

Maryam Brotine, Assistant General Counsel

Debra Jacobson, Assistant General Counsel

Ummehani Faizullabhoy, Assistant Director

Michael Ifkovits, Legal Assistant

Karis Li, Legal Assistant POLICY SERVICES

Angie Powell, Associate Executive Director

Nicholas Baumann, Director

John Fines, Director

Garth Minor, Director

Tammie Ng, Director

Breanna Rabacchi, Assistant Manager

Emily Tavernor, Assistant Manager

Tasha Levy, Admin. Assistant

Jennifer Robinson, Admin. Assistant

Tayler Heidbreder, Specialist

GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Sarah Miller, Associate Executive Director

Mary Ellen Buch, Director

Barbara Hobrock, Director

Mike Stevens, Director

Alie Wagner, Admin. Assistant

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Jennifer Feld, Chief Financial Oﬃcer and Associate Executive Director

Karen Faith, Assistant Business Manager

Camille Gillette, Specialist III

Ruth Ann Ferris, Receptionist

Sally Kimmel, Receptionist

FIELD AND EQUITY SERVICES

Lori Grant, Interim Associate Executive Director

Patrick Allen, Director

Arlana Bedard, Director

Kathryn Bulava, Director

Perry Hill IV, Director

Laura Martinez, Director

Natalie Williams-McMahon, Director

Yolanda Garcia, Admin. Assistant

Nancy Johnson, Admin. Assistant

Cindy Rispens, Admin. Assistant

Shantel Rotherham, Admin. Assistant

Miranda Sexton, Admin. Assistant

Gretchen Watson, Admin. Assistant

BOARD DEVELOPMENT

Lori Grant, Associate Executive Director

Sandra Kwasa, Director

Rhonda Cass Mackiney, Assistant Director

Haylie Noltensmeier, Admin. Assistant

Linda Zulaski, Admin. Assistant

MEETINGS MANAGEMENT

Carla S. Bolt, Director

Natalie Duke, Assistant Director COMMUNICATIONS

Kara Kienzler, Associate Executive Director

Theresa Kelly Gegen, Director

Heath Hendren, Director

Jennifer Nelson, Director

Dara Merino, Assistant Director

Isaac Warren, Assistant Director

Bridget Kusturin, Admin. Assistant

PRODUCTION SERVICES

Katie Grant, Director

Matt Schultz, Graphic Designer

Jeff Armbruster, Print Shop Operator/Graphics

Sta emails: First initial and last name preceding iasb.com

Illinois School Law Survey

Eighteenth Edition

Includes access to a dynamic digital version that is keyword-searchable! $65 IASB Members / $80 Retail

Companion Resource:

2024 Illinois School Code and Related Laws

New two-volume set! Includes the School Code and additional statutes pertinent to Illinois public schools. Purchase includes one set of print books only. No supplement.

Order online www.iasb.com/bookstore

Administrator Salaries: Fast-Moving Data

By Theresa Kelly Gegen

NNotable increases, some curious numbers, and a schedule change highlight this installment of the Administrator Salaries Series, presented something-like-annually by the Illinois School Board Journal

With data moving faster –much faster – than it did when this series started, we are moving the series to a summer issue of the Journal , so the most relevant data can be used in a timely manner. We’re catching up a bit here in hopes that the numbers are usable to school districts.

The study looks at full-time equivalent salaries (plus monetary benefits). IASB compares district superintendent salaries, assistant/ associate superintendent salaries, principal and assistant principal salaries, and a catch-all of other administrators. In each category, this year we did comparisons from 2021 to 2023, and also regional comparisons. We also dove a little deeper into the often-determinative Northeast Region, especially for district superintendents.

The data in our study is as reported by the school districts to the Illinois State Board of Education as required by the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/10-20.47 and 5/34-18.38).

The data are publicly available and nomenclatures, including position descriptions and titles, are established by ISBE. The Journal ’s work organizes the data as has been historically done in this series by year, position, and region. We once again thank ISBE for ongoing efforts to make this information available, and to the districts for providing the data.

For the purposes of this study, we remove salary data for Chicago Public Schools, for many reasons. With 320,000 students in 623 schools, it is by far the largest school district in the state and is among the top five in the nation, along with New York City, Los Angeles Unified, Miami-Dade, and Clark County (Nevada) schools. CPS also uses employment categories that Illinois’ other school districts do not, which makes comparisons difficult. We also do not use data from Illinois Department of Justice programs and independent charter schools.

As has long been the case, the regional breakdowns may prove most useful to boards of education determining salary ranges for their administrators. Within the regions, over time, we see the lows,

highs, and sometimes even averages fluctuate and go against the typical trends. This is possibly due to missing data or oddities in data entry (for example, partial-year or less than full-time equivalents).

District Superintendents

For the first time in 2023, the average full-time equivalent salary (plus benefits) for Illinois district superintendents topped $200,000. This was expected, because it almost happened in with the 2022 numbers. At $205,030, the 2023 statewide average salary for district superintendents is 2.8% higher than in 2022 (See Table 1). This is a typical increase found throughout the history of the study.

Figure 1

Table 1: Superintendent Salaries Salary Comparison, 2021-2022-2023, Statewide

District

Superintendents

Table 2: Superintendent Salaries Regional

District Superintendents

Table 2A: Superintendent Salaries Isolating

District Superintendents

*Far West & South includes reports from McHenry, Kane, Kendall, Grundy, Will, and Kankakee counties Full-Time

The Notable Northeast: We looked at regional averages (see Table 2) for district superintendents, to see where that increase came from. It didn’t come from the Southeast, which – after closing gaps for a few years – had a 2% lower average superintendent salary in 2022 than in 2023. The Northwest region saw an increase, but less than 1%. West Central, East Central, and Southwest all saw average superintendent salary increases of 3 to 4%, as did the Northeast with its outsized influence on the overall numbers.

Even after removing CPS salaries from our study, the Northeast tops our charts in every category. These regions (see Figure 1) were established at the beginning of the Administrator Salaries series, over 25 years ago, and we want to be consistent with that prior work. However, for this installment of the Administrator Salaries series, we decided to further break down the numbers within the Northeast region a little further, into three subgroups: statewide, Northeast, and statewide without Northeast (See Table 2A). This offers a glance comparing the 322 district superintendent salaries in the Northeast with the 536 in the rest of the state.

We single out the Northeast because of its outsized numbers, but we don’t mean to pick on it. With both the most districts by far and the state’s highest cost of living, the higher salary numbers reflect the reality of suburban counties that surround Chicago. Note, too, that many school districts in the region span multiple counties.

One thing that stands out is that the average district superintendent salary in the Northeast, $266,958, is almost $100,000 higher than the average for the rest of the state, $167,827.

Our first subgroup is Cook County. There are more school districts – 145 – reporting from Cook than there are in any other region or subgroup. So we can safely look at Cook County school districts standing alone, without getting too into the salary weeds. Cook County’s superintendents have an average salary of $274,717, compared to $205,030 statewide.

Next, we decided to combine Lake and DuPage counties. Although these two collar counties don’t border each other, they have a lot in common. Both are considered affluent, with relatively higher costs of living, regarded

Teacher Salaries

school districts, and proximity to Chicago contributing to higher property values. Combining for 90 reported superintendent salaries, the average for DuPage and Lake is $288,536.

We combine the rest of the Northeast into the Far West & South suburban grouping, not to

Northeast (but still higher than the rest of the state). The Far West and South counties combine for 87 reported district superintend salaries, with an average of $231,702.

Other Regions: As noted, the average salary for district superintendents in the other five regions is

For the first time, the average [FTE] salary for Illinois district superintendents topped $200,000. This was expected, because it almost happened in 2022.

magnify any locality but to combine similar factors. McHenry, Kane, Kendall, Grundy, Will, and Kankakee counties all include both suburban and rural areas and a mix of housing options and more moderate costs of living compared to the rest of the

The National Education Association (NEA), representing public school teachers and other educators, is the nation’s largest professional employee organization. The NEA released its 2024 “Educator Pay in America Report” in April. Among the key findings from the national teacher union:

• Even with record-level increases in some states, average teacher pay has failed to keep up with inflation over the past decade. Adjusted for inflation, on average, teachers are making 5% less than they did 10 years ago.

• At 3.9%, the increase in the average starting salary was the largest in the 14 years that NEA has been tracking teacher salary benchmarks. However, when adjusted for inflation, the starting teacher salaries are now $4,273 below the 2008-2009 levels.

• Teachers earn 26% more, on average, in states with collective bargaining, and education support professionals earn 16% more.

The NEA reports the national average teacher salary is $69,544. In Illinois, it’s $73,916, ranking 12th in the nation. The NEA reports the national average starting teacher salary is $44,530. In Illinois, it’s $43,515, ranking

$167,827 (See Table 2). Outside of the Northeast, the highest average is in the Northwest, at $184,719, then East Central at $174,760 and West Central at $171,638. Then is Southwest at $162,135 and the lowest average salary for district superintendents is in the

24th in the nation. Legislation passed in 2021 and now in the Illinois School (105 ILCS 5/24-8) sets the state’s minimum teachers salary at $40,000 for the 2023-2024 school year, then rising “based on the Consumer Price Index and subject to review by the General Assembly.”

The NEA’s teacher salary study is available via the Journal resources link below. Illinois teacher salary data is available through the same public ISBE database as the Administrator Salaries series; a link to the NEA publication “Gains in Teacher Pay May Not be Enough to Ease Shortages” is also in the resources.

According to the NEA report, “The data shows that a combination of elected leaders in some states stepping up and the tireless advocacy of educators and their unions has resulted in the largest year-over-year teacher pay increase in over a decade.”

“However, even with record-level increases in some states, average teacher pay has failed to keep up with inflation over the past decade. Adjusted for inflation, on average, teachers are making 5% less than they did 10 years ago.”

Resources can be accessed via iasb.com/Journal.

Southeast, at $144,906. There are no changes in these rankings of average salaries, but, as noted, the average in the Southeast dropped 2.3% from $148,337 in 2022 to $144,906 in 2023. In what may be a sign of long-term administrator retirements, quirks in the reporting, or a combination of both: in each region except the Northeast, the high salary from 2023 was lower than the high salary in 2022.

Assistant/Associate Superintendents

Reported salaries for assistant/ associate superintendents and other administrators offer insights into the supply and demand of administrators. One might be surprised that assistant/associate superintendent salaries (see Table 3), averaging $197,564, are not that much lower than that of the district superintendents. This becomes less of a surprise when one sees that there are 387 assistant/associate superintendents in the Northeast region, and 127 in the rest of the state (See Table 4). Plus, school districts with assistant/associate superintendents tend to be larger, and therefore likely to present higher salaries. Average assistant/associate superintendent salaries went up 2.3% from 2022 to 2023.

Another note about this cohort: There were 514 assistant/associate superintendents reported in 2023, significantly more than 477 in 2022 and 467 in 2021.

Principals and Assistant Principals

One thing stands out in our comparisons of 2023 salaries to

Table 3: Superintendent Salaries

Salary Comparison, 2021-2022-2023, Statewide

Assistant and Associate Superintendents

Table 4: Superintendent Salaries Regional Salary Comparison, 2023 Assistant and Associate Superintendents

Table 5: Principal Salaries Salary Comparison, 2021-2022-2023, Statewide Principals

Table 6: Principal Salaries Regional

Comparison, 2023 Principals

Table 7:

Table

Statewide

2022 salaries, and that’s the average principal salary across the state rose by 9.3% in a year, and assistant principals’ salaries rose by 9.8%. These are the highest increases we’ve seen in the history of this series, when based on comparable data sets (See Table 5). We checked the numbers, and even accounting for normal and expected discrepancies in reporting, it does look be the case that, after a few years of smaller gains, principal salaries increased significantly in this period. The Illinois Principals Association suggests that the ongoing shortage of principals is driving the numbers up. The average salary in every region went up from 2022 to 2023, including by 10.9% in the Southwest and 10.2% in the Northwest.

As we are now familiar, the Northeast region leads the way in the number of reported principal salaries (1,591, almost half of the state’s total) and average salary of $158,429. Next in order of average salary are Northwest ($132,007), Southwest ($122,780), West Central ($119,052) East Central ($116,266), and finally, again, Southeast ($106,117).

For assistant principals, the Northeast region has 1,593 of the state’s 2,415 counted assistant principals (see Table 7). They had an average full-time equivalent salary in 2023 (see Table 8) of $129,780. Next in order of average salary are Northwest ($117,652), Southwest ($109,358), West Central ($104,217) and East Central ($98,266), and finally, again, Southeast ($96,680).

Other Administrators

In this installment of the Administrators Salaries report, with 2023 data, we added an employment designation to our “other administrators” that we did not include previously, so comparisons between 2023 and prior years must be undertaken with care (see Table 9). Adding “General Administrator or General Supervisor” increased the numbers in this section considerably. It also added to the average salary increase by about 3%.

Table 9: Administrator Salaries

With General Administrators the 2023 average salary for “Others” was $140,855; without them, that number was $136,103. Both were higher than 2022’s average, reported in our previous study as $127,405.

This list now includes the following: Bilingual Administrator, CEO, CSBO, Dean of Students (w/Admin Endorsement), Director Area Vocational Center, General Administrator, Head of Gen Ed, Special Education Director. And, as is always the case, the

Comparison, 2021-2022-2023, Statewide

Bilingual Administrator, CEO, CSBO, Dean of Students (w/Admin Endorsement), Director Area Vocational Center, General Administrator (*added in 2024 for 2023 data), Head of Gen Ed, Special Education Director. Full-Time Equivalent Salaries Plus Benefits as Reported by Districts. For more, visit iasb.com/administrator-salaries.

Table 10: Administrator Salaries

Northeast skews our numbers –80% of the administrators in this category are in the Northeast, so we’ve provided the regional breakdown for this cohort as well (see Table 10).

Conclusion

As a whole, trends for district superintendent salaries in the 2023 data stay consistent, be it through the years, across the state, by district type, and within regions. Although a few possible explanations are available, still the increases among the other administrator salaries in 2023 warrant attention. Boards of education seeking new administrators or contracts are encouraged, once again, to look at the data relevant to them and proceed accordingly.

About the Administrator Salaries Series

Since 1997, the Illinois Association of School Boards, collaborating with researchers in the field of educational leadership, has published a report on the salaries of superintendents and principals in Illinois. Early data for the study was obtained through surveys with unaudited information collected via paper survey, with relatively low rates of return.

In 2009, a change in the law (Public Act 96-0434) required Illinois school districts to report administrator and teacher salary information to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The Illinois School Code was amended in 2011 to reflect changes in the reporting dates. The data were briefly unavailable during the transition, and the

Administrator Salaries series was paused for a few years. With reporting standards in place and the data being made available to researchers, IASB’s “annual” study of administrator salaries was revived in 2014 and 2015 with a catch-all and catch-up from those missing years, followed by a regular annual analysis. The series paused again in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic upended the Journal ’s coverage of everything, the salary data retrieval and, consequently, the series publishing. It also concluded the ability of our longtime collaborators at Western Illinois University to collaborate on the series. We are grateful for their work over the years to keep the Administrator Salaries series going. It would not be possible to

continue the series today without their work in years past.

Since January 2022, IASB has presented the series in the Journal as analyzed by Editor Theresa

an updated timeline that offers more relevant and current data, in light of the schedule by which ISBE collects and releases the information. The full series, dating back to

In 2024, we moved the series publication date to the summer ... the result is an updated timeline that offers more relevant and current data.

Kelly Gegen and the Communications Department. We hope to adhere to the original standards for identifying trends, reportage, and analysis as faithfully as possible.

We’ve made one more tweak in 2024, moving the series publication date to the summer instead of the winter. This means we have two installments in 2024, but the result is

1996, is available on from IASB, starting at www.iasb.com/administrator-salaries. 

Theresa Kelly Gegen is the Editor of the Illinois School Board Journal. Contact her at tgegen@iasb.com with questions about this series. Resources associated with this article are available at iasb.com/Journal.

The Latest On …

By Theresa Kelly Gegen

HHere are a few updates to topics we’ve covered in the Illinois School Board Journal in the past year or so.

Food Deserts

In our “Schools, Children, and Food” issue for September/October 2023, our reporting noted the persistence of food insecurity in Illinois and how it impedes children from development both physically and psychologically. We discussed programs in Urbana, Scott County, Cairo, and other communities, and explored how schools are involved in filling the gaps in their communities.

Shortly after we went to press with that issue, the Illinois Grocery Initiative bill was signed into law as Public Act 103-0561. The Illinois Grocery Initiative is a policy designed to address food deserts across the state by supporting existing grocers and encouraging new grocery stores to open through incentive opportunities. It allows grocery stores receiving grants as part of the program to be designated as High Impact Businesses, providing them the opportunity to receive tax credits and other incentives. In addition, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will commission a study to explore reasons for market declines, historical disparities in access to food, potential policy solutions, geographic trends, the role of independent grocers, and more. The study is designed to inform potential future iterations of program resources.

Grant requirements under the Illinois Grocery Initiative are that the grocery store developer grantee must be located in a food desert, must earn less than 30% of revenue from alcohol and tobacco sales, must accept SNAP and WIC, and must contribute to the diversity of fresh foods available in the community.

Additionally, school districts across the state have, or are developing, farm-to-school partnerships. We’re hoping to take a closer look at these in a future issue. If you have a program you’d like to share, please reach out to Journal Editor Theresa Kelly Gegen at tgegen@iasb.com.

Advocacy in Action

If you missed the Advocacy issue of the Journal , March/April 2024, we hope you’ll take a look. The IASB Governmental Relations team continues to help school board members in their advocacy efforts. As key leaders in our educational system, board members serve as an essential local resource on educational issues. Be it a specific and current issue or public education as a whole, involvement by school board members in both the state and national legislative process is imperative to shaping sound education policy.

The first step to advocacy for a school board member is to become informed. “It’s important to learn about the issues that legislators are focused on during a particular session so you can provide your unique perspective to help shape those issues,” says

IASB Associated Executive Director for Governmental Relations Sarah Miller. “Second, what are the issues that are important to your district? Legislators can benefit from hearing your proposed solutions to problems impacting your district but they need to hear from you on what your biggest challenges are. Also, there isn’t one type of advocacy that works for everyone. IASB has so many opportunities to get engaged for that very reason. Whether you attend a legislative panel at the Joint Annual Conference, send an email to a or file a witness slip, the important thing is that you are getting involved in the process.”

Discover more steps by reading the March/April 2024 and visiting the Advocacy pages on the IASB website.

Green Schools

The Journal looked at “Green Schools” in the March/April 2023 issue. Since then we heard back from Huntley Community SD 158, a Green Ribbon Schools winner that joined IASB for a webinar on its green initiatives. “Becoming a Green Ribbon

District: Fostering Environmental Sustainability, Education, and Stewardship” is available to members on the IASB website.

In 2024, two more Illinois districts earned Green Ribbon Schools honors. From the Green Ribbon Schools website:

Clarendon Hills Middle School (CHMS) in Hinsdale CCSD 181: The school’s innovative practices inspire students and staff alike to be catalysts for positive change, not only within the school but also in the wider community and beyond. In partnership with CPower, the school has a Demand-Response contract in place, which involves a voluntary decrease in electrical consumption for short periods. CHMS has installed more efficient building

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automation systems and HVAC controls, powers the school with on-site solar panels and a wind turbine, and has teamed up with Community Solar to take advantage of new off-site solar farms. The electric wiring for car charging stations has been completed. The school features a workout center with showers. A full-time social worker is assigned to each grade level. CHMS offers an effective environmental and sustainability education program, with opportunities for outdoor learning and lab experiences, including visits to local forest preserves and parks. The Clarendon Living Classroom has bench seating for two classrooms, Wi-Fi access, native plants, and a space for the community to gather. Students learn how to develop a model describing the cycling of matter and energy flow within an ecosystem’s living and nonliving parts. They gather and analyze information to describe how synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society. EcoClub and Science Fair Club participants engage in activities such as composting food scraps after lunch.

Lake Zurich CUSD 95: The district implements a multifaceted approach to sustainability, health, and environmental education. Energy conservation efforts such as LED lighting installation, motion sensors, EV charging stations, and HVAC system upgrades, coupled with the integration of renewable energy sources, including the installation of solar panels and geothermal fields at multiple sites, serve as authentic learning tools for students. A rigorous sustainability audit that reviews 36 months of utilities bills will help guide Lake Zurich in future projects, along with plans to further expand the district’s renewable energy portfolio. Lake Zurich has formed a district-wide sustainability committee that engages a diverse group of community members and has integrated language about environmental responsibility as part of global citizenship in its district strategic plan. The district fosters collaboration between its culinary arts and healthy lunch programs; implements IPM protocols and ensures good indoor air quality through MERV 13 filters and ventilation system maintenance; and embeds environmental education across the curriculum through outdoor learning areas, including butterfly gardens and native plant sites

and partnerships with organizations such as the Ancient Oaks Foundation. … Students, through extracurricular clubs, advanced classes, such as environmental science and Project Lead the Way Green Architecture, and a high school greenhouse and plant sale, collaborate with community partners on projects that promote outdoor education, environmental conservation, and business acumen.

Illinois Compares

We had some fun with data in the Journal ’s “Illinois Compares” issue in November/December 2022, and noted Illinois’ status as the “most average state.” Data analysts and dare-we-say comedians Andrew Van Dam and Lenny Bronner combine fun with Illinois averageness in “What state best represents America?” in the May 10, 2024 edition of the Washington Post.

“So [Bronner] churned through Census variables,” Van Dam wrote, “creating indexes of how similar U.S. states are to one another — whereupon we realized that his work would be perfect for a less important purpose: finding the most typical and most unusual places in America…. So which state most closely mirrors the nation as a whole in terms of racial makeup? By mixing metropolis with corn palace, Illinois reigns as the most demographically “normal” state in America.”

Find out which states are becoming more normal, and which states less. Find out why Florida is close, but Illinois still “wins.” There’s more to discover about how normal Illinois is (and how Normal, Illinois is), and we encourage you to read the whole thing. You can reach the column via the resources link below. 

Theresa Kelly Gegen is Editor of the Illinois School Board Journal. Resources associated with this article are available at iasb.com/Journal.

IASB•IASA•IASBO

Joint Annual Conference

November 22-24, 2024 • Chicago

Lighting the Way

The exclusive training and networking event is a must-attend for Illinois school board members, superintendents, and business officials.

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Thursday, November 21

• IASB Equity Immersion*

Friday, November 22

• IASB Friday Focus Workshops*

• Administrative Professionals’ Program

• Panel Sessions

• Exhibit Hall

• First General Session

Saturday, November 23

• Second General Session

• IASB Delegate Assembly

• Panel Sessions

• Carousel of Panels

• Administrative Professionals’ Program

• Exhibit Hall

Sunday, November 24

• Coffee and Conversation Sessions

• Third General Session

*Additional registration and fees apply. This programming is available to those who are registered for the Conference.

100+ PANEL SESSIONS

Learn from experts and stay up to date on critical topics impacting public education, including school finance, community engagement, educational equity and advocacy, safety and security, collective bargaining, and more.

Hear how other districts are meeting challenges with 31 Share the Success presentations offered.

200+ EXHIBITORS

Discover the latest innovations and solutions available from the foremost education services and organizations.

SPEAKERS

General Session 1

Friday, November 22

Mickey Smith Jr. Discover your sound with the “Educator, Encourager, and Musician”

Each day includes a General Session bringing together Conference attendees to celebrate and inspire.

General Session 2 Saturday, November 23

David Horsager

Bestselling Author and CEO of Trust Edge and Leadership Institute

General Session 3 Sunday, November 24

Michael Lubelfeld, Ed.D. Author speaker, and Superintendent of Schools for North Shore SD 112

Nick Polyak, Ed.D. Author, speaker, and Superintendent of Schools for Leyden CHSD 212

Plus, enhance your personal and professional development with specialized programming.

EQUITY IMMERSION Thursday, November 21

Foster belonging and become immersed in a world of educational equity that will include equity engagement activities, small group discussions, celebrations, vendors, and more. Speakers include 2023 Illinois Teacher of the Year, Briana Morales and Deputy Superintendent for Georgia’s Clayton County Public Schools, Ralph L. Simpson, Ed.D.

FRIDAY FOCUS WORKSHOPS Friday, November 22

School board members gain knowledge, skills, and resources to provide effective board leadership. Full and half-day workshops offered:

• The Job of the Board President in Leading Leaders

• Breaking Down the Walls: Bringing Student Voice to the Board Table

• Creating Peak Team Performance Through Self-Awareness and Personal Growth

• School Finance for Board Members

• Superintendent Evaluation: The Essential Work of the Board

• Equity: An Educational Imperative

• LeaderSHIFT — Today’s Challenges Require a Different Type of Leader

• School Safety and Violent Event Incident Management and Reunification Overview

• Gaining the Trust Edge

• Beginning, Enhancing, and Sustaining Your District’s Educational Equity Journey

Learn more about the Conference and IASB Lighting the Way at www.iasb.com/conference

Shining a Light on Survey Results

By Theresa Kelly Gegen

EEvery other year since 2018, the Illinois Association of School Boards has conducted a member survey, with the aim of gathering information to support its members. The most recent survey was presented from February to April 2024.

Ranking the Issues: Operations

A - Budgeting/School Funding & Finance

B - Accountability

C - Community Engagement

D - Governance

E - Facilities

F - Collective Bargaining

G - Technology

And then, in the summer, IASB shines some light on the responses and shares insights into IASB membership that we gained from the survey. School board members, district superintendents, and administrative professionals were invited to assess their satisfaction and to prioritize what public education or school leadership topics are most important.

Prior to 2008, the IASB Member Survey occurred every five years and was a pen-and-paper model, with over a hundred questions. The survey transitioned to digital in 2018, and this year we again offered an online version, and each year the survey gets a little shorter and more user-friendly.

For 2024, there were 1,086 unique survey responses. Of those, 711 were school board members, 199 were administrative professionals, and 176 were superintendents. Our respondents came from each of IASB’s 21 divisions; from districts under 500 students and over 10,000 students and everything in between; from elementary, unit, and high school districts; and from urban, suburban, town, and rural communities.

Interestingly, our school board member respondents reflected a small change in years of service from 2022 to 2024. In 2022, 37% of respondents had served under five years and 31% were in years 5-10. In 2024, 47% had served under five years and 22% were in years 5-10. In both 2022 and 2025, the percentage of respondents serving over 10 years was 31%.

How does IASB use the survey results? The Association remains committed to continuous improvement in programs and services offered to local boards of education. We like to know what topics interest you, so that we can include coverage of those topics in the Illinois

Ranking the Issues: Students

(F) to Most Important (A)

A - Academic Performance

B - Curriculum

C - Educational Equity

D - Safety and Security

E - Student Behavior

F - Athletics

School Board Journal, webinars, news items, sessions at the Joint Annual Conference, and other offerings. We use the responses to the survey to assess existing offerings and consider new ideas for programming. For example, in the last survey, we asked questions about participation in Division Events, and some of the changes you may have noticed to those stem from those responses. In the 2024 survey, was asked a few questions about social media, and you’ll see some direct action on social engagement and outreach in the near future. We also take all the information from the member surveys past and present and use it to develop information for school board candidates, boards of education recruiting

future school board members, and next year’s new board members.

Satisfaction

The mission of IASB includes offering “premier training experiences; networking opportunities for mutual support; valuable benefits, pooled services, information, and expertise; advocacy on behalf of public education; and a platform for a strong collective voice on common interests and concerns,” all with the vision of “excellence in local school board governance supporting quality public education.”

In the survey IASB asked, “How would you rate the customer service IASB provides to you or your district?” Of all respondents, 36% said Exceptional, 42% Very Good, and

35% Good. Of School board members, 20% said Exceptional, 40% said Very Good, and 32% said Good.

IASB offers a programs and services to meet that mission, and the survey asked how about meeting members’ expectations. We learned

• 84% of all survey-takers, and 82% of school board members, agree or strongly agree that their board benefits from its membership.

• 81% of all survey-takers, and 77% of school board members, feel supported through the programs and services available through IASB.

• 71% of all survey-takers, and 68% of school board member respondents, feel “connected and engaged with IASB.

provides

A - Exceptional 19.89%

B - Very Good 39.63%

C - Good 31.47%

D - Fair 8.15%

E - Poor 0.86%

How All Respondents rate the customer service that IASB provides

A - Exceptional 26.30%

B - Very Good 41.83%

C - Good 25.30%

D - Fair 6.07%

E - Poor 0.75%

We also learned from school board members that

• 91% of school board members agree or strongly agree that they are regularly informed about IASB programs and services.

• 71% of school board members agree or strongly agree that their competence and confidence to be an effective school board member have improved because of IASB support.

Advocacy

With IASB’s advocacy efforts booming, the survey asked all respondents their thoughts about it. IASB received its highest marks from respondents considering the Association’s state legislative advocacy and lobbying to be important benefits of membership with IASB, and for respondents having a clear

How School Board Members rate the customer service that IASB

understanding of IASB’s position on its legislative priorities.

The two categories where IASB scored the lowest in advocacy were respondents having “a clear understanding of how IASB’s legislative positions are derived” and “IASB’s legislative advocacy and lobbying efforts have resulted in laws that positively impact my school district and our students.” Still over 60% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed about understanding and impact, those insights offer IASB something to work for.

Urgency

IASB asked all respondents some questions about issues facing their school districts. The most urgent, was Academic performance and student growth, followed by Teaching (teacher shortage, quality of teaching).

The latest survey asked some questions only to school board members. IASB asked its members to rank topics in order of importance in their work. The top answers at the operational level were Budgeting/School Funding and Finance; and Accountability. The top answers in terms of students were Academic Performance and Student Growth; and Curriculum. This was almost identical to those in the 2022 survey.

As has been standard, we also asked school board members a question about their motivation to serve on the board of education. The top answer, by far, has been that they “Value public education.” In 2022 “Value” scored 4.83 (out of 6) and in 2024 scored 4.64. Interestingly, the runner-up in both years “To make a specific improvement in the schools,” is closing the gap. “Specific” scored 3.80 (out of 6) in 2022 and 4.05.

Engagement

This year, we discovered that survey respondents are increasingly taking advantage of the opportunities IASB offers its members. Our top engagement metric this year was attendance at the 2023 Joint Annual Conference – 76% of respondents attended, compared to 67% in the prior survey. This bumped reading the Illinois School Board Journal from the top spot among engagement opportunities: 69% of respondents in the 2024 survey read the Journal , compared to 67% in 2022. We thank you for reading it now!

In 2024, 55% of respondents used the IASB website, and 52% reviewed IASB sample policy and procedures material at PRESS

Online. These engagement activities were checked by 40-50% of respondents: Viewing a live or pre-recorded webinar (49%); Reaching out to IASB staff members for assistance (46%); and Attending a Division Event (45%). If you’re one of the 2% of respondents who feels disengaged, uninformed, or unsupported, we encourage you to share how we can improve as we aim to reach and serve all members. Take advantage of educational leadership and governance offerings, many of which are no-cost, and share your opinions of IASB’s efforts to help you serve your public schools. 

Theresa Kelly Gegen is Editor of the Illinois School Board Journal.

Working Together to Develop the Future Workforce

Contributed by DuPage HSD 88

IIn today’s society, students have the opportunity to pursue a variety of pathways, and it’s our job as school districts to adapt and make sure we provide what they need to be college and career ready.

The United States is facing a labor shortage all over, and the landscape of public education is changing as a result. According to a November 2023 survey of 800 U.S. employers (conducted by Intelligent.com), 45% of companies plan to eliminate bachelor’s degree requirements for some positions in 2024, and 55% of companies eliminated bachelor’s degree requirements for at least some roles in 2023.

“Employers are prioritizing key traits like critical thinking ability, interpersonal skills, a strong work ethic, and adaptability and flexibility over a college degree …,” said Brent Clark, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Illinois Association of School Administrators, in his March message. “If you listen to employers, public education in America could be in the midst of another paradigm shift. College can still be incredibly valuable, but a ‘college-for-all’ mindset can be a disservice to students. A student who graduated from high school with an industry credential and entered the workforce is just as successful as a student who graduated and enrolled in college.”

So, how can school districts adjust to meet this shift and help students build positive futures through work-based learning? To answer this question, we must first identify the issues involved.

• The workforce has decreased. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Illinois has 76 available workers for every 100 open jobs. “In 2023, employers ended up adding 3.1 million jobs. A strong jobs market is good news, but many of those job openings are going

unfilled because the U.S. does not have enough workers to fill them.”

◦ How school districts can overcome this challenge: Connect students to hands-on, immersive experiences and work-based learning that can provide supported pathways through their college pursuits.

• Students’ skills aren’t matching the needs of employers.

◦ How school districts can overcome this challenge: Offer opportunities for students to complete training programs and earn certificates, badges, and credentials.

• There’s still a stigma toward students pursuing alternative pathways. “To create change as an industry, we must provide greater credibility to alternate education paths that allow students to gain employable skills,” said Michael Hansen in a Harvard Business Review article.

◦ How school districts can overcome this challenge: Provide greater credibility to alternate education paths. See below for tips and more information.

Here are tangible steps school districts can take to implement an effective work-based learning program.

Gain Support from Key Stakeholders

A successful work-based learning program takes a district-wide effort and the backing of all involved. This includes:

• Board of Education members – Having the support of Board of Education members is crucial to adjust policies and procedures, add resources/staff, and implement new partnerships, ideas, courses, and flexibilities. In

cooperation with the Board of Education, DuPage HSD 88 was able to create a new Director of Student Career Development position to encourage students to explore their interests and goals, as well as assist them in shaping their professional paths.

• Staff members – Work-based learning should be part of all curricular areas (see below for more information). For the program to move forward, all staff members – especially school counselors – must have a “work-based learning” lens.

• Parents/guardians – Educating parents/guardians about work-based learning (through presentations, field trips, career fairs, and more) is a vital piece to maintaining a productive and positive program.

Make

Work-Based Learning a District-Wide Focus

Work-based learning should be part of all aspects of the district and school environment. At DuPage HSD 88, this focus is embedded in the strategic plan and corresponding online dashboard, as well as in each curricular area. We continue to increase opportunities for students to visit worksites through field trips and to learn about career options through fairs and speaker presentations. We also offer internship/ apprenticeship/vocational programs, including:

• Heritage Spanish Career Fluency course – This course helps students develop their skills in professional settings and introduces them to various career paths, while enhancing their bi-literacy. This is accomplished through a job-shadow component at local businesses. Students visit facilities once a week for about three months.

• Education Teacher Preparation Program – This program provides students with an inside look into the education system. Participants gain field experience and work directly with teachers and students in a classroom.

• CTE Youth Apprenticeship Program – This program is geared toward students who are interested in pursuing a career in engineering, precision manufacturing, computer programming, and computer hardware and software design. Students receive school credit,

certification in OSHA 10, preparation for an apprenticeship placement, and a paid apprenticeship experience in the manufacturing or information technology fields.

• CNC Machining Fundamentals –This program exposes students to the modern machine shop environment and principles of manufacturing. When students complete this course, they earn a level 1 CNC operator certificate and a passing score on the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) Measurement Materials & Safety credentialing exam.

Remove Barriers and Add Flexibility for Students

Adjust district-level graduation requirements –To allow for students to pursue work-based learning opportunities, we implemented several flexibilities to our district graduation requirements, including in reading, science, and physical education. To accomplish this, we also had to allow for flexibility within each student’s daily schedule.

• Provide transportation – Assist students in coordinating transportation, to ensure this isn’t an obstacle that causes them to disengage from work-based learning experiences. Providing transportation also helps to make sure students stay on schedule and on task.

• Know the requirements – According to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), students can participate in apprenticeship programs if they are “at least 16 years old, in good standing with the school, enrolled in a CTE program that supports the occupation, and maintain passing grades and satisfactory attendance.”

• Provide opportunities for all students – There are many resources, services and programs to support nontraditional and undocumented students, to make sure they’re able to participate in work-based learning experiences. School districts can partner with colleges/universities, businesses and legislators to learn about and expand these options.

DuPage HSD 88 hosts a Transition Program to help individuals ages 18 to 21, who have a variety of abilities, to learn life skills, obtain job training in a

community setting, and transition to life after school. The goal is to help students with diverse needs gain independence in the workplace.

Develop Partnerships

For work-based learning to be impactful and beneficial, it’s important to collaborate with colleges/universities and local businesses/organizations to enhance and expand options for students. Other important groups include the local chamber of commerce and workforce development committees. Be sure your district is connected with those agencies to stay involved and up to date with the workforce needs and opportunities in your area. Join with those partners to think outside of the

box, and be creative when implementing work-based learning experiences and programs.

Work-based learning is critical to help with the labor shortage we’re seeing throughout Illinois and the U.S. and to connect students to hands-on, immersive experiences, as well as certifications, credentials, and scholarships. As school districts, we must adapt to help link students with viable short-term and longterm career options that can provide

Columns are submitted by members of the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association

supported pathways through their college pursuits.

About DuPage HSD 88

DuPage High School District 88, comprised of Addison Trail and Willowbrook high schools, provides a high-quality and comprehensive learning environment to prepare students to be college and career ready in a diverse society. A main focus of the district is to cultivate inclusive and rigorous learning opportunities for students to pursue individualized pathways to success.

Submitted by Dani Brink, DuPage HSD 88 Director of Community Relations. Resources, including contact information, associated with this column can be accessed at iasb.com/Journal

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BERG ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS, LTD.

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BLDD ARCHITECTS, INC.

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LEGAT ARCHITECTS, INC.

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IASB Service Associates are businesses which o er school-related products and services and which have earned favorable reputations for quality and integrity. Only after careful screening is a business ﬁrm invited to become a Service Associate.

To learn more about IASB Service Associates membership, visit www.iasb.com or contact IASB at bkusturin@iasb.com

PCM+DESIGN ARCHITECTS

Provide a full range of architectural services including facility and feasibility studies, architectural design, construction consulting, and related services. East Peoria (309) 694-5012; www.PCMPLUSD.com; whelmick@pcmplusd.com

PERFORMANCE SERVICES, INC.

An integrated design and delivery engineering company serving the design and construction facility needs of K-12 schools. Schaumburg (847) 466-7220

PERKINS&WILL

Architecture, educational planning, programing, master planning, re-referendum services. Chicago (312) 755-0770 mark.jolicoeur@perkinswill.com; aimee.eckmann@perkinswill.com; rick.young@perkinswill.com

RICHARD L. JOHNSON ASSOCIATES, INC.

Architecture, educational planning. Rockford (815) 398-1231; www.rljarch.com

STR PARTNERS

Architectural, interior design, planning, cost estimating, and building enclosure/ rooﬁng consulting. Chicago (312) 464-1444

STUDIOGC ARCHITECTURE + INTERIORS

StudioGC is passionate community-minded partner, committed to creating imaginative and well-designed facilities. StudioGC o ers innovative planning, programming, architectural, interior design, and cost estimates. Chicago (312) 253-3400

TERRA ENGINEERING, LTD.

TERRA is a Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) ﬁrm certiﬁed with the City of Chicago and Illinois CMS systems, providing transportation and tra c engineering; municipal, structural, electrical, and construction engineering; site development and landscape architecture; recreation and athletic facility and land use planning; land surveying; and GIS services. Chicago.

TRIA ARCHITECTURE

An architectural planning and interior design ﬁrm that provides services primarily to school districts in the Chicagoland area with an emphasis on service to their clients, and their communities. Burr Ridge (630) 455-4500; www.triaarchitecture.com

WIGHT & CO.

A fully integrated design, engineering, and construction ﬁrm that partners with education leaders to create progressive, inspiring, and sustainable learning environments, while helping to manage risk and provide accountability in the delivery of work. Darien (630) 969-7000

WOLD ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS

Specializing in Pre-K-12 educational design including master planning, sustainable design, architecture, mechanical and electrical engineering, quality review, cost estimation and management. Palatine (847) 241-6100

Building Construction

BOLLER CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.

Construction Manager and General Contractor specializing in building and renovating schools. Waukegan (847) 662-5566

BYRNE & JONES SPORTS CONSTRUCTION

Turnkey Construction of all outdoor athletics facilities, including synthetic turf and natural grass ﬁelds, running tracks and tennis courts. Bridgeton, Missouri

CORE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES OF IL., INC.

Professional construction management, design-build, and general contracting services. Peoria (309) 404-4700; COREconstruction.com; mikaylavincent@coreconstruction.com

F. H. PASCHEN

A general/construction manager with extensive experience in new construction and renovation of educational and institutional facilities in the public/private sectors. Chicago (773) 444-1525; www.fhpaschen.com; aizzi@fhpaschen.com

FREDERICK QUINN CORPORATION

Construction management and general contracting. Addison (630) 628-8500

HOLLAND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC.

Full service construction management and general contracting ﬁrm specializing in education facilities. Swansea (618) 277-8870

IHC CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES LLC

IHC Construction Companies LLC is a full-service construction management ﬁrm that delivers new construction, additions, and renovations for School District clients on-time and within budget. Elgin (847) 742-1516

INTERNATIONAL CONTRACTORS, INC. (ICI)

An award-winning construction management ﬁrm specializing in K-12 facilities. Our ﬁrm is currently partnering with eight Illinois School Districts on capital improvement projects. Oakbrook Terrace (630) 641-6852

NICHOLAS & ASSOCIATES, INC.

Construction management, general contracting, design and build. Mt. Prospect (847) 394-6200 info@nicholasquality.com; nickjr@nicholasquality.com

PEPPER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

Construction management and general contracting services. Barrington (847) 381-2760; www.pepperconstruction; jripsky@pepperconstruction.com

POETTKER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

Specializing in construction management, design/build, construction consulting services, and energy solutions for education clients. Breese (618) 526-7213; www.poettkerconstruction.com

SERVPRO TEAM WOLFE

Servpro Team Wolfe specializes in the cleanup and restoration of commercial properties after a ﬁre, smoke or water damage. Assist schools in developing a recovery plan to put things back to preloss condition quickly and e ectively.

E ngham (314) 502-1337

S.M. WILSON & CO.

Provides construction management and general construction services to education, healthcare, commercial, retail, and industrial clients. St. Louis (314) 645-9595; www.smwilson.com; kristyn.newbern@smwilson.com; amanda.bohnert@smwilson.com

TRANE

HVAC company specializing in design, build, and retroﬁt. Willowbrook (636) 305-3600

Computer Software, Supplies, Services

COMMON GOAL SYSTEMS, INC.

We o er cloud-based software solutions for student information management, student registration, state reporting, ﬁnancial management and payroll, parent communication, scheduling, gradebooks, report cards, and more.

Des Plaines (630) 592-4200; www.common-goal.com

COMPUTER INFORMATION

CONCEPTS, INC.

Inﬁnite Campus student information System and Finance Suite, and Tableau Data Visualization/Analytics. Greeley, Colorado (312) 995-3342

EDMENTUM

We provide fully digital curriculum and assessment tools for educators to utilize in K-12 classrooms to establish blended and personalized environments and advance student learning. Bloomington, Minnesota (952) 832-1570

Consulting

EOSULLIVAN CONSULTING

Illinois-based EOSullivan Consulting has developed a proven process the helps school districts with community engagement, survey research, messaging, informational campaigns and referendums. Libertyville (815) 353-1991

SCHOOLS OF ILLINOIS PUBLIC COOPERATIVE

SIPC is a non-proﬁt procurement co-op for Illinois schools. Membership is free and at-will. SIPC negotiates best pricing on behalf of members for building and grounds management, operations, maintenance, improvements, janitorial, energy projects, waste management. Carbondale Environmental Services

ALPHA CONTROLS & SERVICES, LLC

We deliver energy cost justiﬁed solutions that make the learning environment comfortable, secure, and e cient. Rockford, Springﬁeld, Champaign (815) 227-4000; www.alpaacs.com; jasonv@alphaacs.com

VEREGY

Dedicated to assisting K-12 education meet the challenge of providing healthy, safe, and educational appropriate learning environments.

St. Louis (636) 230-0843; Chicago (773) 633-0691; veregy.com; bsmith@veregy.com

ENERGY SYSTEMS GROUP

A comprehensive energy services and performance contracting company providing energy, facility and ﬁnancial solutions. Itasca (630) 773-7201; jcohn@esg.email

GRP MECHANICAL CO., INC.

Renovating buildings through energy savings performance contracting to provide the best learning environment. HVAC, plumbing, windows, doors, and mechanical services. Bethalto (618) 779-0050

IDEAL ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, INC.

Asbestos and environmental services. Bloomington (309) 828-4259

ILLINOIS ENERGY CONSORTIUM

Sells electricity and natural gas to school districts, colleges, and universities. DeKalb (815) 753-9083; www.ILLec.org; hwallace@iasbo.org

ENGIE SERVICES U.S. Turnkey partnership programs that enable K12 school districts in Illinois to modernize their facilities; increase safety, security and e ciency; reduce operations costs; and maximize the lifespan of critical assets. Chicago (312) 498-7792; sharon.uslan@engie.com

RADON DETECTION SPECIALISTS

Radon measurements in elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as all DCFS licensed spaces. We service the entire state of Illinois. Westmont (630) 325-4443 or (800) 244-4242

Financial Services

BERNARDI SECURITIES, INC.

Municipal bond specialty fi rm; o ers a full range of school bond underwriting services, including capital needs fi nancing and debt refi nancing. O’Fallon (618) 206-4180; Peru (815) 587-8972; Chicago (312) 281-2014; jvezzetti@bernardisecurities.com

BMO HARRIS BANK

BMO Harris Bank’s experienced specialists can help you build a sound strategy to help close budget gaps, manage day-to-day cash ﬂow and maximize your resources. Chicago (312) 461-7895

GORENZ AND ASSOCIATES, LTD.

Auditing and ﬁnancial consulting. Peoria (309) 685-7621

ICE MILLER, LLP

Nationally recognized bond counsel services. Chicago (312) 726-7127

KINGS FINANCIAL CONSULTING, INC.

Municipal bond ﬁnancial advisory service including all types of school bonds; school referenda, county school sales tax; tax revenue forecasts/projections. Monticello (217) 762-4578

SPEER FINANCIAL, INC.

Financial planning and bond issue services. Chicago (312) 346-3700; www.speerfinancial.com; dphillips@speerfinancial.com; rmckenzie@speerfinancial.com

STIFEL

Full service securities ﬁrm providing investment banking and advisory services including strategic ﬁnancial planning; bond underwriting; referendum and legislative assistance. Edwardsville (800) 230-5151; noblea@stifel.com

WINTRUST FINANCIAL

Financial services holding company engaging in community banking, wealth management, commercial insurance premium ﬁnancing, and mortgage origination. Rosemont (630) 560-2120

Human Resource Consulting

ACCURATE BIOMETRICS

Live scan ﬁngerprinting for Illinois and FBI background checks. Live scan system sales and placement. Managed services for data security and compliance. Itasca.

BUSHUE HUMAN RESOURCES, INC.

Human resource, safety and risk management, and insurance consulting. E ngham (217) 342-3042; www.bushuehr.com; steve@bushuehr.com

Insurance

THE SANDNER GROUP

Insurance program management, marketing & claims services for workers’ compensation, property & liability. Chicago (800) 654-9504

O ce Equipment

EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS BY FRANK COONEY COMPANY, INC. Furniture for educational environments. Wood Dale (630) 694-8800; www.frankcooney.com; gregory@frankcooney.com

Other

ECRA GROUP

Superintendent searches, board and superintendent workshops. Arlington Heights (847) 318-0072

Milestones

Continued from page 34

Larry G. Nardoni, 66, died May 18, 2024. He was a long-time firefighter/EMT who served on the Steger SD 194 school board.

Janet Neff, 79, died May 7, 2024. She taught in the East Moline school district for 27 years and served on the school board there for 11 years.

Edward J. Neumann, 80, died April 14, 2024. He served on the McHenry CHSD 156 school board for 18 years, including nine as president.

Charles L. Noe, 82, died August 24, 2023. He retired from teaching at the Roosevelt Magnet School for the Performing Arts in Peoria and was a past member of the school board for Limestone CHSD 310 in Bartonville.

Rick Olson, 68, died March 27, 2024. He had served on the Morris CHSD 101 Board of Education.

Ray Parriott, 80, died April 21, 2024. He had served on the Orangeville CUSD 203 school board.

Judson Peter, 90, died May 9, 2024. He served on the board of education for Oswego CUSD 308.

Duane Pratt, 93, died June 1, 2024. He was a member of the board of education for the Roseville School District in Warren County.

Leona Pyrce, 97, died May 17, 2024. She served on the board for Berwyn North SD 98 and was a founding member of the North Berwyn Park District.

Kathryn Quartier, 63, died April 11, 2024. She served on the Westville CUSD 2 Board of Education.

Larry Reed, 84, died May 24, 2024. He had served on the school board for Dixon Unit SD 170.

Merle Alan Sayre, 85, died May 8, 2024. He was a past member of the Virginia CUSD 64 school board. His daughter-in-law, Tracie Sayre, is currently the Vice President of the IASB Board of Directors.

Carol Seibert, 77, died May 28, 2024. She served as a school board member at Mascoutah CUSD 19.

Julie Sharp, 91, died May 21, 2024. She was a longtime member of the Shirland CCSD 134 Board of Education.

Robert (Bob) Spencer Smith, 88, died May 11, 2024. He was a member of the school board for Triopia CUSD 27.

Roger Swanson, 88, died April 24, 2024. He had served on the Bureau Township school board in Bureau County.

Elizabeth Weber, 75, died May 14, 2024. She was a longtime member of the school board for Union SD 81 in Joliet.

Ronald Williams, 82, died May 17, 2024. He was a member of the board for the Saybrook-Arrowsmith school district in McLean County.

Patricia Williams died February 15, 2024. She had served on the Hinsdale CCSD 81 Board of Education.

Byford Wood, DVM, 93, died May 18, 2024. He had served on the Breese SD 12 Board of Education. 

Please direct Milestones contributions to communications@iasb.com.

Milestones

In Memoriam

John Albin, 95, died April 20, 2024. He served as a member and president of the Newman CUSD 303 school board and also chaired the Parkland College board.

Margaret Ames, 83, died March 31, 2024. She was a past member of the board of education for Cissna Park CUSD 6.

Glen Bennett, 85, died May 10, 2024. He had served on the school board for the Aledo school district in Mercer County.

John F. Brokaw, 86, died May 15, 2024. He had served on the Tiskilwa Board of Education in Bureau County.

Richard Clementi, 66, died May 20, 2024. He was a longtime employee of the city of Joliet and a member of the school board for Joliet PSD 86.

Fred Coombs, 90, died April 5, 2024. He was a lifelong educator and expert in educational policy analysis and a member of the Urbana SD 116 Board of Education.

Sam Costello, 69, died May 1, 2024. He served for 24 years on the Chicago Heights SD 170, including 10 years as president.

Bernard De Rubeis, 81, died April 28, 2024. He had served on the Toluca school board in Marshall County.

Leroy Duncan, 77, died April 12, 2024. He served on the East AltonWood River CHSD 41 Board of Education for 23 years.

Henry Eppel, 87, died March 31, 2024. He was a past member of the Pontiac CCSD 429 school board.

Neil Ernest, 81, died March 31, 2024. He served on the board of education for Wabash CUSD 348 for 29 years.

Edward Fesco, 93, died May 21, 2024. A surgeon, he had a 60-year career in medicine in the Illinois Valley. He was a past member of the LaSalle-Peru THSD 120 Board of Education.

Pauline Fischer, 82, died April 3, 2024. She was an educator and a champion for early childhood education who also served on the Harlem SD 122 school board.

Alan Fricker, 88, died April 23, 2024. He had served on the Southwestern CUSD 9 Board of Education.

John E. Frieden, 72, died May 21, 2024. He was a past member of the school board for Rockridge CUSD 300.

Jane Goodspeed, 90, died May 7, 2024. She had served on the school board for Freeport SD 145.

Thomas Greskowiak, 77, died April 25, 2024. He was a member of the boards of education for Lincoln-Way CHSD 210 and New Lenox SD 122.

Todd Guidi, 61, died May 20, 2024. He had served on Farmington Central CUSD 265 school board.

Suzanne “Sue” Henderson, 88, died April 13, 2024. She served on the Lake Forest CHSD 115 school board, which she described as her “dream job.”

Harold Herrmann, 92, died May 22, 2024. He was a past member and president of the Pecatonica CUSD 321 Board of Education.

Donald Lee “Buck” Hiatt, 92, died April 28, 2024. He had served on the school board for Paris Union SD 95.

Gene L. Hofbauer, 87, died May 26, 2024. He was a graduate of Rankin schools and a member of the Rankin SD 98 school board.

Philip S. Howe, 76, died April 11, 2024. He worked as a lawyer for the State of Illinois for 25 years and was later an Administrative Law Judge for the Department of Defense. He served on the school board for Grayslake CHSD 127.

John Kempel, 98, died April 3, 2024. He was a 15-year member of the Pearl City CUSD 200 Board of Education.

Roger Kiddoo, 85, died May 20, 2024. He was a past member of the school board for Westmer CUSD 203.

G. Howard Little, 89, died April 16, 2024. He had served on the board of education for the Waterman school district in DeKalb County.

William R. Maddux, 90, died April 15, 2024. He served as a member and president of the Woodlawn SD 209 school board.

Craig A. Meeske, 77, died May 15, 2024. He served on the Hampton SD 29 Board of Education.

Michael G. Minger, 81, died April 23, 2024. He served on the Metamora CCSD 1 school board for 26 years, 24 as president. He received the Thomas Lay Burroughs Award for Outstanding Board President for the state of Illinois.

Continued on page 33

“More than half of the leaders in the top ranks of America’s school districts say they’re not compensated fairly for their work. For superintendents, however, a raise of $22,500 could fix that, according to a recent survey by the EdWeek Research Center. Twenty-seven percent of district leaders who responded to the survey —and occupy positions including superintendent, finance chief, and curriculum director — said they felt they did not receive a fair salary, and that it made them want to leave their current job. Another 24 percent said they felt their salary was unfair, but it did not have an effect on their desire to stay in their position. Superintendent turnover has inched up in recent years, as people in districts’ top

jobs have faced a steadily growing list of academic challenges, stress, and, occasionally, upheaval as the political composition of school boards has shifted.”

— “Here’s What Superintendents Think They Should Be Paid,” by Caitlynn Peetz, Education Week, May 14, 2024.

“When it enacted the EBF, Illinois put a funding system in place with the potential to ensure every school in the state has the capacity to meet the educational and social-emotional needs of all the children it serves. However, that capacity will not exist until the EBF is fully funded in real terms — after accounting for inflation. Unfortunately, at the current rate of investment, that won’t happen until, at best,

2033. Which means another generation of Illinois children will receive an inadequately funded education, at a time when education matters more than ever. … Building the state’s fiscal capacity to invest an adequate amount of funding in education within a reasonable period of time is an urgent matter. Which is why it is imperative that legislators in both parties drop partisan differences and work with the governor to resolve the state’s fiscal shortcomings as soon as practicable. Illinois’ school children should not have to wait another decade to receive an adequately funded public education.”

— “Fully Funding the EvidenceBased Formula: FY 2025 Proposed General Fund Budget,” Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, May 14, 2024.

2921 Baker Drive

Springfield, Illinois 62703-5929

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