LM summer 2023

Summer 2023 Leadership Matters

CPPRT Uncertainty FY 2024 Why Less Funding

Plus... Welcome to the New IASA Board Of Directors is Anticipated and Advice for Budgeting

PD Opportunities FY24 Schedule Released

IL 2024 SUPT OF THE YEAR Submit Your Application

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Illinois school districts will likely see a reduction in CPPRT funding in FY24. IASA Field Services Director Dr. Vic Zimmerman shares why less funding is anticipated and offers advice on budgeting. CPPRT UNCERTAINTY FY24

IASA Board of Directors FY2024

7 Introducing IASA FY24 Board of Directors

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Elevating Education

Members on the Move

Illinois 2024 Superintendent of the Year: Submit Your Application

IASA Legal Corner

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ISBE Grant Deadlines Approaching

16 PD Opportunities:

FY24 Schedule Released

IASA News in Brief

Volume 11, Issue 6 Summer 2023 Leadership Matters 23134

2648 Beechler Court Springfield, IL 62703-7305 217.753.2213 800 Woodfield Road, Ste. F109 Schaumburg, IL 60173-4717 847.466.5075

Jason Nevel Director of Communications jnevel@iasaedu.org

Marjorie Gladish Graphic Designer mgladish@iasaedu.org

1200 West Main Street Marion, IL 62959-1138 618.364.0501

www.iasaedu.org

Scan here with your phone’s QR code reader to get the IASA APP— Don’t have a QR reader? Go to or and search for IllinoisASA.

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Message From the Executive Director Introducing IASA Compliance Plus Pilot Program for FY 2023-24 School Year

Dr. Brent Clark

Our association has always taken pride in the ability to offer programs and services that are timely, member driven and practical in assisting your day-to-day work. As I travel across the state and meet with superintendents, I am increasingly hearing concerns about compliance matters—in particular the amount of time it takes to keep up with the ever-growing list of mandates. Schools are struggling to navigate regulatory processes, submit and produce certain reports and manage significant clerical responsibilities while trying to carry out their mission of educating students. For the 2023-2024 school year, IASA will introduce “IASA Compliance Plus,” a pilot program to assist member superintendents with some of their most pressing compliance needs. This program will be available exclusively to the first 40 districts whose boards approve this additional IASA membership service. To carry out this initiative, IASA has hired two experts in the field of compliance—Cheryl Graff, Regional Superintendent at Regional Office of Education #30 in Murphysboro, and Robert Wolfe, former Chief Financial Officer at ISBE. Cheryl is retiring from the ROE on July 1. She will bring her knowledge and expertise from the Regional Office to assist participants with numerous compliance matters, including required training, licensure

and records issues. Robert will handle all ISBE-related questions, including submission of grant reports and navigating ISBE’s financial systems. As part of the program, there will be one site visit for each member superintendent. The 2023-2024 pilot program cost will be a flat rate of $5,200 for each district. This service may align with your District’s Risk Management Plan, making tort funds available for this program. Contact your district’s legal counsel for questions on use of the tort fund. This program is in its infancy, which is why we want your feedback on what type of support you are looking for from Cheryl and Robert. Below is a link to an interest form. Please complete this online form to indicate your interest. Please note filling out the form does not lock your district into participation, but we will use the submitted responses to determine the first 40 districts. IASA will follow up for confirmation and send an invoice at a later date. For further questions related to IASA Compliance Services, please contact Chad Watkins at cwatkins@ iasaedu.org. We are pleased to provide another level of service to members.

Click here to fill out IASA Compliance Plus Interest Form

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Q A

Q U E S T I O N S

Click here for the entire podcast.

&

A N S W E R S

In May, the Illinois Department of Revenue released a memo that indicated school districts, and other government bodies, would see a reduction in Corporate Personal Property Replacement Tax funding. On the IASA Podcast, we spoke to Dr. Vic Zimmerman, IASA Field Services Director, about this announcement and what it means for school districts trying to budget for FY 24. The following is a condensed and edited version of that conversation.

CPPRT Uncertainty FY2024 Why Less Funding is Anticipated • Advice for Budgeting

A Q

Can you share a quick history on why Illinois has CPPRT? Back in the 1970s, EAV was made up of real property, which is buildings and land, and personal property, which is the things inside. For example, if you had a big factory, the building was part What is your personal history with CPPRT? When I was hired as superintendent in Monticello in 2007, I noticed the district received a very significant amount of CPPRT funds. In fact, about 40 percent of our budget came from CPPRT funds, so I figured I better learn more about it.

of EAV but also all the equipment inside. It became very difficult to do a calculation on the personal property, so the legislature, through the Constitution of Illinois, made a change to eliminate personal property as one of the valuation factors that school districts were levying upon. Since a lot of governmental entities across the state had a significant portion of personal property as part of their EAV, they couldn’t just crank up their tax rates on the real property. That’s when the legislature came up with a replacement tax for those districts. The way it works is all corporations pay an additional 2.5 percent on their income tax statements. That money goes into the Corporate Personal Property Replacement Tax bucket for the entire state and then those dollars are distributed out to governmental bodies and school districts based on what percentage of personal property valuations they had back in the 1970s.

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A Q

How stable of a funding source has CPPRT been for schools? If you track CPPRT over time, it generally trends upward in the long term. However, it does kind of cycle every six to seven years with the Illinois economy since most of the CPPRT is based on corporate profits. In FY 22 and FY 23, schools saw a 3X amount of CPPRT increase. For example, if you received $1 million on average, the last couple years you received $3 million. Why was there such a jump in CPPRT funding the past two years? When we talked to the Illinois Department of Revenue about why the CPPRT increased so much the last couple years, we were told that there were changes in tax laws due to closing some loopholes and then what happened with the economy during COVID. While small businesses struggled, the big corporations in Illinois made a lot of money. But that’s not exactly what happened. Can you tell me a little bit about reallocation? About a month ago, we received a memo from the Department of Revenue on reallocation. Reallocation is when corporations submit their income tax estimates, and some individuals have to submit income tax estimates, it all goes into one account. The Department of Revenue makes a determination on what percent of income tax dollars should be allocated to corporations and what percent should be allocated to the individual income tax accounts at the state. They do a pretty good job of making this estimate. However, with the tax law changes, they weren’t exactly sure how the allocations should take place. The memo we received said that too much CPPRT was allocated to the corporation side and not enough was allocated to the income tax side in the initial estimates. People submit income tax forms by April 15th. Once all those are all collected, and refunds are paid, the Illinois Department of Revenue does what they call a

What does that mean for school districts? Superintendents and business managers just want to know how much money they are going to receive. They’ll then figure out how to move forward. Right now, the challenge for superintendents and business managers is kind of guessing on the amount you’re going to receive. The Department of Revenue has not said that they’re going to request school districts or governmental entities to send back the money. Instead, they’re going to take that $800 million dollars out of the FY 24 bucket. In addition, they say when they make the correction on allocation, it could be to the tune of another $800 million. Therefore, if you take $800 million out of FY 24 to make up for the miss allocation in FY 21 and FY 22, and then make the correct allocation, which could end up being $800 million (not sure yet), simple math says there could be $1.6 billion less in CPPRT in FY 24 than FY 23. True Up, where they figure out exactly what went into corporate budget lines and what went into revenue lines. That process lags about 18 months. What they determined was that in FY 21, or FY 22, they were off on their allocation to the tune of about $800 million. Now they need to move that $800 million dollars from the corporate income tax lines back into the personal income tax receipt lines and then correct the allocation going forward.

A Q

A Q

A Q

A Q

Can you put the impact of this overallocation in context?

The total CPPRT bucket was about $4.5 billion dollars. If you take $1.6 billion out of $4.5 billion, that’s about one-third less. The bottom line is schools will receive about one-third less in CPPRT in FY 24 as they did in FY 23, if everything else holds the same.

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CPPRT ... cont’d.

A Q

A Q

While schools will likely be taking a hit this upcoming year, how does that compare to funding before the two-year spike? At the end of the day, school districts are still ahead of what they received for the decade prior to this two year spike. For example, if your district received $3 million each of the past two fiscal years, taking away one-third would be $2 million. Before that, the amount was closer to $1 million, in this scenario. That’s still twice as much as you received previously. Can you share recommendations for superintendents on budgeting? I would recommend in the tentative budget, which superintendents are probably working on now, a CPPRT revenue estimate of 25 to 35 percent less than they received in 2023. A real conservative number for your budget for FY 24 would be 33 percent less. The Illinois Department of Revenue is required to come out with CPPRT estimates for all governmental bodies in the state and those numbers are typically published in the first week or two of August. Right now, we’re just kind of reading tea leaves. When we see the Department of Revenue estimates in August, you have an opportunity to make a modification if it’s a significant difference. Also, I’d like to point out that the Illinois Municipal League will release a much more detailed article on the state of CPPRT coming up in the next issue of their magazine. That will be a good resource to look at.

Instead of taking the full $800 million in one year, are you aware of any discussions about a more gradual take back? I would hope they’re exploring the possibility of soften ing the blow on districts. However, I think it would be tough to advocate really strongly for that because we are still expecting to receive twice as much as we have in the prior years. The devil’s always in the details for these types of matters. How does the wild swings in CPPRT funding impact a district’s EBF? CPPRT receipts are a variable that’s included in the EBF formula, so the more CPPRT you receive, the less additional EBF you receive. The opposite is also true. The less you receive in CPPRT, the more EBF funding you receive. I will say, however, that it’s certainly not a dollar-for-dollar exchange. Any final thoughts for superintendents? Like I said before, you’re going to receive less CPPRT in FY 24 than the last two years. Also, those COVID federal grants are being spent out, so you need to pay attention to what the dollars were spent on and think about how you are going to pay for it going forward. As we know, those dollars are not going to be there forever.

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New IASA Board of Directors for FY 2024

A new fiscal year ushers in changes to the IASA Board of Directors—the primary decision-making body of IASA consisting of members of the 21 IASA regions and an at-large representative. IASA is also divided into three Super Regions: Northcentral, Northeastern and Southern. Each consists of seven IASA regions from which the board rotationally elects the IASA president. On July 1, the IASA Board of Directors welcomed six new faces, as well as some changes to the five officer positions. Here is a look at the FY 2024 officers: • President: Dr. Roger Alvey, Illini Bluffs CUSD #327, Northcentral Super Region. • President-Elect: Dr. Anthony Scarsella, Palos CCSD #118, Northeastern Super Region. • Past President: Dr. Kevin Blankenship, Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 and Winchester CUSD #1, Southern Super Region. • Treasurer: Barb Thompson, Fisher CUSD #1, Illini Region. • Secretary: Dr. Steven Wrobleski, La Salle-Peru Twp HSD #120, Starved Rock Region. In addition, six IASA regions will have new representatives on the board. • Dr. Don Angelaccio, Cook North, replaces Dr. Judy Hackett (term expires June 30, 2026).

• Dr. Ryan McGuckin, Corn Belt, replaces Gary Tipsord (term expires June 30, 2026). • Dr. Hank Thiele, DuPage, replaces Dr. John Corbett (term expires June 30, 2026). • Stephen Wilder, Kishwaukee, replaces Brent O’Daniell (term expires June 30, 2025). • Andrew Johnson, Wabash Valley, replaces Julie Kraemer (term expires June 30, 2026). • Chris Janssen, Western, replaces D. Todd Fox (term expires June 30, 2026). Lastly, we want to say thank you and goodbye to the following school leaders for their service on the IASA Board of Directors. Their vision and passion helped move IASA forward. • Dr. Judy Hackett, Cook North, (board member since 2014). • Gary Tipsord, Corn Belt (board member since 2017). • Dr. John Corbett, DuPage (board member since 2020). • Brent O’Daniell, Kishwaukee (board member since 2019). • Julie Kraemer, Wabash Valley (board member since 2019). • D. Todd Fox, Western (board member since 2022).

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Board ... cont’d.

New IASA Board of D

Goodbye Message from Dr. Kevin Blankenship, Past President Dr. Kevin Blankenship Past President, IASA Board of Directors

The opportunity to connect and collaborate with superintendents across the state has been one of the great joys of serving as President of the IASA Board of Directors. In each meeting, we discuss unique challenges and share perspectives about how legislation or other state initiatives will impact our districts. While the circumstances vary from region to region, there is never any debate or misconception about what the North Star of the Board should be when it comes to determining opposition, support or strategy. Every decision comes back to—what’s best for students. Staying grounded and focused on continuously supporting my students, teachers and community has always been my purpose in education. I know it may sound cliché, but superintendents can’t lose sight of their purpose. This job can wear you down and spit you out. Issues like the teacher shortage, unfunded mandates, personnel matters, union issues and board relations can cause superintendents to become jaded or pessimistic about public education. I steadfastly believe that serving as a public school superintendent remains the best job on the planet. My family jokes I like it so much that I elected to serve as dual superintendent of two districts, Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 and Winchester CUSD #1. Ultimately, each of you applied for this job because you wanted to, not only shape the lives of students, but also

shape the lives of your teachers, staff and your community. Never forget or take for granted the tremendous opportunity you have as superintendent. The future of education is yours to mold and shape—all in the vision of what your students and community needs. To help you achieve your goals, you have an incredible partner in the IASA. One of the great benefits of serving on the IASA Board of Directors is connecting with my counterparts from across the country. I can say with confidence that Illinois has the best administrator association in the country. Other states may offer some of the services we enjoy as members, but no one else offers the complete package of legal support, mentoring, networking opportunities, on demand professional development, legislative advocacy, communications support and resources. To carry out these services, IASA has a talented and passionate staff. If you ever need assistance, someone from IASA is always available to assist you. To close, it’s been an honor to serve as IASA President. The opportunity to connect and collaborate with superintendents across the state has helped me grow as a leader and strengthen educational programs for students within my district. For helping me improve the lives of students, I’m incredibly grateful. At the end of the day, that’s my purpose.

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Directors for FY 2024

Welcome Message from Dr. Roger Alvey, President Dr. Roger Alvey President, IASA Board of Directors

That is what helps form a common bond among superintendents in an extremely diverse state. Seven board members didn’t wake up one day and decide to make you superintendent—you had to earn it. Without question, there were people along the way who helped you reach this point. Or, as Todd Fox, a retired superintendent from Southeastern School District, recently put it, “If you see a turtle on a fence post, you know it had help getting there.” I am forever grateful for my parents and the core values they instilled in me early on. Whenever a personnel issue or community complaint arises, I sometimes reflect on the hardships my father experienced while he pursued his dream and the sacrifices he made for me. Maintaining perspective matters in leadership. However, sometimes I need outside help. The IASA has always been there for me. The organization has allowed me to grow and develop, and it has provided me with the support that I have needed in the best of times and in the worst of times. Dr. Clark, and the entire IASA staff, work constantly to address our needs both personally and professionally, so that we can all lead our schools and communities in the best interest of children. To close, I look forward to serving as President of the IASA and getting to know all of you. I relish the opportunity to develop relationships with new and different superintendents from across the state, and I welcome the opportunity to assist you in any way I can in this new leadership role. Have a great rest of the summer, and I will see you at the annual conference in September!

Growing up the youngest of seven boys in a small town, with a stay at home mom and a father who was an educator, I quickly discovered the importance of relationships, hard work, the value of a dollar and the benefits of serving your community. Throughout my 31-year career in education—including the past 11 as superintendent of Illini Bluffs District #327—I have never forgotten those values my mother and father instilled in me early on. My father, a “hillbilly” from Kentucky, ate “anything green” from his backyard in order to survive as a child. He raised five of his siblings after his mother died in a house fire when he was 15. In college, on his way to becoming a science teacher, he survived by eating 3-cent bologna sandwiches for nearly every meal. Because he didn’t have enough money to travel and interview for his first teaching job, the principal had to meet him in a cafe in Indiana, halfway between Illinois and Kentucky to conduct the interview. He started his career by getting off a bus in the small town of Glasford, IL, in 1953, carrying everything he owned in two suitcases, and renting a room from an elderly woman. He ultimately served for 35 years as a high school principal in the district in which I am now superintendent, Illini Bluffs District #327. As I have traveled from north to south and east to west across the state, I have heard similar stories from superintendents. While these stories may be unique and different, superintendents are alike in the struggles, trials and tribulations each of us have faced.

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Board ... cont’d.

New IASA Board of D

O F

F

I

C E R S

Treasurer and Illini Barbara Thompson

Secretary and Starved Rock Dr. Steven Wrobleski Superintendent La Salle-Peru Twp HSD #120

President-Elect Dr. Anthony Scarsella

President Dr. Roger Alvey Superintendent Illini Bluffs CUSD #327

Past President Dr. Kevin Blankenship Superintendent Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 & Winchester CUSD #1

Superintendent Fisher CUSD #1

Superintendent Palos CCSD #118

Abe Lincoln Tip Reedy Superintendent Williamsville CUSD #15

Cook North Dr. Donald Angelaccio Superintendent Prospect HeightsSD #23

Blackhawk Dr. Jay Morrow Superintendent United TWP HSD #30

Central IL Valley Dr. Chad Wagner Superintendent Elmwood CUSD #322

DuPage Dr. Hank Thiele Superintendent CHSD #99

Corn Belt Dr. Ryan McGuckin Superintendent Woodland CUSD #5

Cook West Dr. Kevin Skinkis Superintendent Riverside-Brookfield Twp HSD #208

Cook South Dr. Jeff Stawick Superintendent CCSD #146

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Directors for FY 2024

Lake Robert Gold Superintendent Big Hollow SD #38

Kaskaskia Dr. Scott Doerr Superintendent Nokomis CUSD #22

Kishwaukee Stephen Wilder Superintendent Sycamore CUSD #427

Egyptian Richard Towers Superintendent Christopher USD #99

Northwest Timothy Schurman Superintendent Chadwick-Milledgeville CUSD #399

Three Rivers Dr. John Palan Superintendent Grant Park CUSD #6

Shawnee Dr. Lori James-Gross Superintendent Unity Point CCSD #140

Southwestern Matthew Stines Superintendent Grant CCSD #110

Two Rivers Dr. Kelle Bunch Superintendent Liberty CUSD #2

Wabash Valley Andrew Johnson Superintendent Effingham CUSD #40

Western Christopher Janssen Superintendent Spoon River Valley CUSD #4

At-Large Dr. Kimako Patterson Superintendent Prairie-Hills ESD #144

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Education Elevat g

We continue our series highlighting tremendous educators across Illinois who have given their time and energy to ele vating the superintendency and public education as a whole. Each month, we will feature two educators who are going the extra mile and truly making a difference beyond their school districts and local communities. While we are aware of many of the contributions administrators are making, we are open to any suggestions for someone to feature next month. To make a recommendation, contact Jason Nevel, IASA Director of Social Media and Publications, at jnevel@iasaedu.org or by calling 217–753–2213. Dr. Jeff Schuler CUSD #200 in Wheaton Dr. Jean Neal Georgetown-Ridge Farm CUSD # 4

Who: Dr. Jean Neal, superintendent What: Implemented rigorous summer school and maintained after-school programming; Narrowed achievement gaps with targeted interventions and internal assessments; Expanded social emotional learning; Started equine and dog therapy; Implemented health and wellness activities for students and staff; Expanded FFA programs; Partnered with

Who: Dr. Jeff Schuler, superintendent What: Co-chair of LEND; President of LUDA for FY 2024; Presenter at conferences; Implemented the Living Room concept to bolster social emotional support for students; Helped develop and share crisis communication strategies; Strategic planning; Strategic dashboard; Implemented strategies to boost

teacher morale. Where: CUSD #200 in Wheaton, DuPage Region When: Superintendent of CUSD #200 since 2014 Why: The impact educators can have on transforming the lives of students was impressed on Dr. Jeff Schuler at an early age. “I grew up in a family of educators and have seen the power of education,” Dr. Schuler said. “What has always driven me is creating opportunities for students. I do what I do because of the students we serve.” As superintendent, Dr. Schuler has created a welcoming and supportive work environment for staff at CUSD #200. Twice per year, the district surveys teachers and staff members to gain a better understanding of how they feel about their job and the support they receive. The district then puts into place strategies and tools to address any

Eastern Illinois University on food bank; Focused on Grow Your Own programming. Where: Georgetown-Ridge Farm CUSD #4, Illini Region When: Superintendent at Georgetown-Ridge Farm CUSD #4 for 11 years Why: Dr. Jean Neal’s background as a social worker helped shape her philosophy as superintendent. “If we want to give students hope for a better future, our first priority is to meet the fundamental needs of students,” Dr. Neal said. “Students will struggle to learn if they have insecurities with food, housing and clothing.” As superintendent, Dr. Neal has expanded programs and initiatives to educate the whole child while providing targeted academic interventions for students in need. Georgetown Ridge Farm CUSD #4 partnered with Eastern Illinois University

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Education Elevat g

Schuler ... cont’d. issues. Dr. Schuler has shared the district’s approach to boosting teacher morale as a presenter at conferences. “We use that data to really prioritize strategies and supports to make sure our employees feel good and have a strong sense of efficacy in the job they are doing in our district,” Dr. Schuler said. CUSD #200 has also been proactive in strengthening social-emotional supports for students under Dr. Schuler’s leadership. The district built a program called the Living Room that is designed to support students returning from significant levels of crisis and mental health challenges. The idea was based on a community program developed by NAMI of DuPage County. “It’s a designated place staffed by a counselor or mental health specialist that serves as a drop-in space for students who experienced trauma and need support to develop some calming and regulation strategies,” Dr. Schuler said. Throughout his career, Dr. Schuler has been a leader in sharing effective communications strategies, especially in crisis situations. One way CUSD #200 improves responses to crisis situations is by actively engaging in conversations around emergency preparedness with first responders and community partners. “They often say in crisis situations that organizations tend to default to the level of training or preparedness their employees have,” Dr. Schuler said. “That’s always resonated with us, so the more we can do to be prepared for crisis situations, even if we don’t know all the details, the better response we will have.” Dr. Schuler and his staff have also been focused on developing a new strategic plan and utilizing a strategic dashboard, designed by ECRA, that provides quality data and benchmarks for student learning outcomes. “We are prioritizing our work around SEL and learning acceleration to make sure our students and staff are connected to our school environment so they can learn at high levels, making, at minimum, a year’s worth of growth each school year,” Dr. Schuler said. Outside of CUSD #200, Dr. Schuler serves as co-chair of LEND and will be President of the Large Unit District Association for FY 2024.

Neal ... cont’d.

to open a food pantry at the school. Two-thirds of students in Georgetown-Ridge Farm CUSD #4 are low income. The district also hired additional counselors and social workers, implemented equine therapy, had two staff members trained to be therapy dog owners and incorporated wellness strategies like yoga, meditation and breathing techniques into the school day. This past school year, Dr. Neal emphasized improving the morale of students and staff by scheduling fun activities, adding field trips and finding new ways to celebrate accomplishments. “I was hearing more and more about our students and teachers having anxiety,” Dr. Neal said. “We’re trying to give people tools and strategies to manage stress levels so it doesn’t interfere with their ability to teach or learn.” Georgetown-Ridge Farm CUSD #4 also offers students additional support through a rigorous summer school program and after-school programming. When federal funding to operate the district’s 21st Century after-school program was temporarily lost, Dr. Neal kept it afloat by finding an alternative funding stream. Also under her leadership at Georgetown-Ridge Farm CUSD #4, the district narrowed achievement gaps by providing students with targeted interventions and incorporated an internal assessment system that tracks academic growth. “We are really proud of the fact that our students have not experienced any major setbacks academically and are functioning at pre-pandemic levels,” Dr. Neal said. Georgetown-Ridge Farm CUSD #4 has also expanded FFA programs and agricultural education to the junior high level. Furthermore, the district continuously strives to provide ag students with more hands-on learning experiences, including opportunities to raise livestock. Lastly, Dr. Neal expanded the district’s Grow Your Own program to combat the teacher shortage. Georgetown Ridge Farm CUSD #4 offers tuition reimbursements to educational support staff and teaching assistants to go back to college and earn their teaching certificate.

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59TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

September 27–29, 2023 BOS Center and the President Abraham Lincoln Springfield—A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel

Registration and Housing Open Early August

FEATURED KEYNOTES

Merlyna Valentine has been a teacher, assistant principal, principal and Executive Director of Elementary Schools in her 30-year education career. In 2007, she was faced with a medical tragedy that changed her life forever. She is focused on motivating others to embrace change.

Adam Welcome is a highly regarded author and speaker. He previously served as a teacher, principal, and Director of Innovation and Technology for a large school district

Jill Siler is the Executive Director for Professional

Always a favorite, Ignite allows leaders from exemplary school districts to share innovative educational messages and best practices, taking just 5 minutes each.

Learning for the Texas Association of School Administrators. She is a former superintendent, author of two education books and former chair of the Future Ready Superintendent Leadership Network in Texas.

in California. He is passionate about

technology integration in schools and a social media advocate.

don’t miss–

MORE SPECIAL EVENTS...

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

for

Click here to learn more.

Breakout Sessions of Best Practices Academies Exhibits New Superintendents’ Strand and Dr. PJ Caposey, Dr. Keely Roberts and Chuck Schneider Thursday on the Big Stage! Women in Leadership Receptions

School Service Members—

Sponsor an Event, Meal or Speaker and be seen by over 650 Illinois superintendents and school administrators attending our conference over three days.

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2024 Illinois Superintendent Of The Year Application

Click Here to Apply

Applying for Illinois Superintendent of the Year has never been easier! IASA has designed its own online application and is no longer using the AASA portal. Any superintendent can apply for Illinois

Superintendent of the Year. Illinois Selection Criteria Each candidate is judged on the following criteria: —How is your district elevating student success in the areas of academics, high school preparedness, college and career readiness and social-emotional support? —How is your district improving the quality of teaching and learning?

Student Success

Teacher Success District Success Community Success Involvement with IASA

—How has your leadership pushed your district forward? —In what ways have you given back to your community? —How involved are you with IASA?

Application Information and Procedures

Code of Ethics/ Acknowledgement Form

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Professional Development Since ASA launched in July 2016, 240 educators have attended the week-long boot camp. Of that total, roughly 1/3 of participants have been hired as superintendent within five years of attending this academy. Be sure to follow ASA activities on Twitter by searching for the hashtag #ASuperWeek. To close, we recently launched FY 2024 Academies and Workshops. Take a look at the professional development opportunities currently available. As always, please contact me to see if IASA can customize a PD experience for your district or region.

Dr. Courtney Orzel IASA Associate Director of Professional Development

IASA’s Aspiring Superintendent Academy welcomed 37 educators to Springfield this week for the opportunity to learn about the modern superintendency. I am extremely proud to be a co presenter alongside Dr. Mike Lubelfeld and Dr. Nick Polyak. Throughout the week, participants will engage in active learning experiences and gain insights about how to be an effective leader. The fast-paced program also features numerous simulations, reflection time and the creation of meaningful artifacts.

IASA Offering Initial and Retraining Academies for Principal and Teacher Evaluation, Student Growth Need Evaluator Credits?

If you or anyone in your district is in need of evaluator training to fulfill state requirements, IASA has you covered. Multiple sessions are being offered in FY 2024 beginning in July. All sessions will be held virtually. info•register

Budget

Starting at the

Basics

Beginning

info•register helpful for any other Superintendent or administrator who would benefit from a very basic workshop on the school district budget. Upcoming dates: July 5–July 18.

Understanding the school district budget is one of the most important financial responsibilities of a school Superintendent, regardless of the size of the district. This six-hour workshop (multiple dates being offered online and in person) is designed for early-career Superintendents (1st-5th years), but is also

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Leadership Strand

Women in Leadership: Learning Leading Living AA 3665

&

the field, and gain a greater sense of work-life blend. All leaders—men and women—are encouraged to join this

IASA’s Women in Leadership Academy returns August 29th with a new version that focuses on facing our fears, increasing our confidence and, as always, networking, supporting and connecting with leaders across Illinois. Participants will leave with practical ways to build your PLN, support others in

experience. Upcoming dates: Aug. 29, Feb. 27 and June 17.

info•register

This academy will guide Administrators and district personnel through a working session and in-depth overview of the topics and processes related to meeting School Code Compliance requirements through ISBE, ROEs, and ISCs. Upcoming dates: Sept. 7, Oct. 5 and Jan. 11. info•register

Health Life Safety Compliance An Administrator’s Guide to the Fundamentals AA #3700

Professional Development The purpose of this academy is to provide administrators and other school personnel with an in-depth look at, and discovery into, topics related to Health Life Safety and Compliance. Uniquely, the presenters provide both perspectives on the issue: Ralph Grimm presents the school superintendent’s

view, and Pat Durley, the regional superintendents. Upcoming dates: Sept. 12, March 7 and May 30.

info•register

Leadership Strand Why Your Why Matters AA 1445

IASA’s popular leadership academy strand focusing on your Why returns with three additional online sessions. Whether you’ve experienced a Why session before, or you’re taking Why Your Why Matters for the first time, register today and join your colleagues around the state to network, collaborate and

reflect on why being an educator is the most important profession on Earth! Upcoming dates: Oct. 3, Jan. 10 and June 13.

info•register

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continued...

PD ... cont’d.

OCTOBER WORKSHOPS FOR EARLY-CAREER SUPERINTENDENTS, ADMINISTRATORS

Tax Levy Basics:

Preparing & Filing the Tax Levy Certificate

Preparing and filing the tax levy certificate may well be one of the most important tasks a district superintendent must complete on an annual basis. Understanding the cycle is

crucial to completing this annual task correctly and on time. Upcoming dates: Oct. 10–24. info•register

Leadership Strand Leadership Requirements for Moving From Good to Great AA 481

Some schools and school districts are good; some are great. What is the difference and what does it take to move an institution from good to great? The focus of this course is on leadership and behavioral

characteristics that enable leaders to identify and accomplish their goals of moving from Good to Great. Upcoming dates: Oct. 17, Jan. 11 and April 11.

info•register

IASA Academy

THE UNFINISHED LEADER: A School Leadership Framework for Growth & Development AA#3896

School of Professional Development

There is no such thing as the BEST version of yourself, there is only the NEXT version of yourself. You have to be driven deeply by something, believe that you have a legacy to leave and admit you are unfinished. This IASA Academy led by Dr. Michael

Lubelfeld and Dr. Nick Polyak serves as a guidepost to help leaders understand that we are all works in progress. Upcoming dates: Oct. 18 and April 18. info•register

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Problem-Solving and Collective Bargaining Using an Interest-Based Approach AA 3782

Professional Development

This academy will provide Administrators, Board Members and Association (Union) Members with an in-depth overview of the concepts included in the Interest-Based Bargaining method that can be used as problem-solving techniques as well. Specifically, the course provides

participants information on the three main components of Interest-Based Bargaining: Training, “Communication Lab” and Bargaining. Upcoming dates: Oct. 19, Feb. 8 and Feb. 15. info•register

PERA, Evaluations and SB7/RIF: Putting It All Together

cycle including the PERA Joint Committee, the SB7/ RIF Committee and the timelines in which each of these committees must complete their work. Upcoming dates: Oct. 24-Nov. 2.

The evaluation, retention and dismissal of your staff is really a series of interconnected steps that create a cycle that must be followed each year. This workshop is designed for early career Superintendents and other administrators who would benefit from a practical, immediately useful refresher course on this essential topic. Information will be shared on each step of the

info•register

Leadership Strand Adaptive Leadership: Dealing With Change AA 1825

There are always new practices and strategies being discovered that will enable students to be more engaged and to learn better. However, teachers are not necessarily quick to change their practices. How do we, as administrators, challenge and encourage teachers to be open-minded to new practices and strategies for learning?

This IASA Academy led by Dr. Gary Zabilka will help leaders think more clearly and execute better in a shifting environment. Upcoming dates: Dec. 5 and March 7. info•register

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PD ... cont’d.

The Power of Positive Teams AA 3927 Leadership Strand

Investing in your team’s success and well-being is a game-changer for your organization’s growth. Register now for this IASA workshop based on the proven principles of Jon Gordon’s best-selling book, The Power of Positive Teams (POPT). Participants will learn proven strategies and practices to help build a stronger, more united, and connected team. Upcoming dates: Jan. 12 and March 8.

info•register

Leadership Strand

The Power of Positive Leadership AA 3730 The research is clear. Being a positive leader is not just a nice way to lead. It’s the way to lead if you want to build a great culture, unite your organization in the face of adversity, develop a connected and committed team and achieve superior goals. This IASA workshop is designed to provide you with actionable strategies to create a culture of trust, empowering you to lead with authenticity and ignite a sense of purpose within your team. Upcoming dates: Feb. 2, April 4 and June 18.

info•register

Got Great School Videos? Send your school videos with a short description to jnevel@iasaedu.org. We want to highlight what’s going on in your school districts on our magazine’s Videos from the Districts page.

Monthly e-magazine of Leadership Matters

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LISTED CHANGES WILL BE EFFECTIVE START OF 2023–2024 SCHOOL YEAR Members On The Move

Who’s moving, who’s brand new, who’s retiring? Here’s an easy way to keep track of who’s where!

Known New Superintendents 74

Known Transferring Superintendents

22

Click on each square to see a list of names for the upcoming school year.

Known Retiring Superintendents

Known Superintendent Vacancies

48

5

Please know that every attempt has been

made to achieve accuracy on these lists. Also note the lists do not include superintendents who pursued other career opportunities or individuals who are returning to the superintendency after a hiatus.

See IASA’s Job Bank to post or apply for educational positions in Illinois.

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Looking for the Perfect Candidate? IASA’s Illinois Education Job Bank SM can help you. Every day, thousands of job seekers visit the IASA Illinois Education Job Bank looking for openings at school districts across Illinois. Avoid national sites that cost more and are not tailored to Illinois educators. The IASA Illinois Education Job Bank SM is trusted by superintendents across the state and makes finding qualified applicants to fill permanent, interim, part or full-time vacancies easy. • Set up the RSS feed option to automatically post your district’s vacancy to your district website • The Job Bank SM is set up to automatically send an email notice to your ROE when a position is posted • Easily flag your favorite applicants • Create job posting templates to save you time in the future

SEARCH | FILTER | POST | SEE ALERTS | MANAGE YOUR PROFILE AND DOCUMENTS | VIEW HISTORY

If you have any questions about the IASA Job Bank SM or new feature criteria, contact Ashleigh Knudson at 217–753–2213.

illinoiseducationjobbank.org

Legal Corner

Chad Watkins IASA Associate Director/General Counsel

To help school leaders navigate uncertain times, IASA has partnered with leading law firms throughout Illinois to provide districts with critical guidance during the 2023–24 school year. In every issue of Leadership Matters, the IASA Legal Corner will showcase an article written by attorneys who specialize in legal matters related to education. It is our hope you find the content insightful, timely and helpful in addressing the critical matters you face.

This month, Kerry Pipal, an attorney with HLERK, writes about how a recent closed session discussion by a city county of personnel matters violated the Open Meetings Act. As a reminder, IASA Legal Corner articles are provided for informational purposes only, and you are advised to contact your district counsel for legal advice. Click on the link below to access the article

Closed Session Discussion of General Personnel Matters, including Salaries and Potential New Employment Positions Violated the OMA

In a nonbinding opinion, the Public Access Counselor (“PAC”) found that a city council violated the Open Meeting Act (“OMA”) when it improperly discussed certain matters during closed session that were outside the scope of the cited exception. During one meeting, the city council cited Section 2(c)(1) of the OMA, which allows public bodies to enter closed session to discuss “[t]he appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of

specific employees…” During the closed session, the city council discussed a discrimination complaint against the city that was filed with the EEOC and its implications, including potentially hiring a future qualified minority applicant to fill a new employment position in response to the EEOC complaint. Upon review, the PAC emphasized that because the conversation centered... (continue reading)...

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Membership Drive FY 2024

ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

RENEW OR JOIN IASA TODAY

OR

Online Registration FY 2024 Now Available here.

Download here and print your copy of the IASA Active Membership Invoice for 2024

TO ALL SUPERINTENDENTS:

Have you changed your email address? @

Will you be retiring this year?

Are you a new superintendent?

Will you be changing districts this year?

Please let us know your status change immediately. We don’t want you to miss any important IASA news or information!

If you have questions about IASA membership, contact Misti Murphy at 217–753–2213, or mmurphy@iasaedu.org by September 1, 2023

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School Service Membership

ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

DOES YOUR COMPANY SEEK MORE VISIBILITY AMONG IASA MEMBERS? Supporting IASA via School Service Membership is your entry point to IASA and our members! Maximize your marketing dollars and gain visibility with more than 1,000 school superintendents and administrators in Illinois. You gain:

IASA Membership Directory: Annual publication, available in print and online, includes contact information for all Illinois public school district

Exhibiting Opportunities Be an exhibitor at the IASA Annual Conference, which attracts more than 650 school administrators to Springfield in September.

Advertising Opportunities School Service members can advertise in the Membership Directory, Annual Report, Superintendent’s Toolkit, Eye on Education, etc.

IASA Illinois Education Job Bank: Post job listings on Illinois’ premier education job site.

superintendents and other key personnel.

If you have any questions on IASA membership, please contact Misti Murphy at 217–753–2213 or mmurphy@iasaedu.org.

Upgrade to IASA’S Corporate Partner Program. IASA Corporate Partners enjoy School Service Member benefits plus enhanced opportunities for facetime with IASA members. By becoming an IASA Corporate Partner, you significantly increase your visibility with those who make the daily purchasing decisions that affect their schools. Sponsorship opportunities include: WANT EVEN MORE VISIBILITY?

Silver Level Gold Level Platinum Level President’s Circle Level School Service Membership LEVELS OF VISIBILITY:

IASA Annual Conference Whether it’s the conference program, app, website or an in-person event, multiple sponsorship opportunities are available.

Receptions Sponsoring a reception at an IASA event is the perfect opportunity to gain visibility with IASA members in person.

IASA Publications and Podcast Gain recognition by

IASA Events Throughout the year, IASA hosts various academies, workshops, webinars and other events that attract hundreds of superintendents.

Video Library and IASA App Increase visibility by sponsoring IASA’s Video Library or the IASA App, which are utilized daily by IASA members across the state.

sponsoring or advertising in Eye on Education daily news brief, Annual Report, Superintendent’s Toolkit, Membership Directory, or the IASA Podcast.

Contact Cherry Middleton at 217–753–2213 or at cmiddleton@iasaedu.org for more information on Corporate Partnership.

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IASA’s Senate Bill 7 Performance Rankings Tool improves efficiency in your district by generating reports needed to comply with Senate Bill 7 and other related laws, freeing you up to focus your time and energy more on supporting your students and staff. The program provides districts a method of managing district positions aligned to local qualifications, teacher’s credentials and performance ratings. It’s proven, affordable and used by districts across the state. Senate Bill 7 Compliance Made Easy 2023–2024 Software Now Available for Purchase

What’s new? The 2023–24 file has been enhanced in response to user ideas and is ready for you to purchase and download. Updates include: • Teacher race column added with teacher data and the Sequence of Honorable Dismissal. • Added columns for storing another cycle of evaluations. • Enhanced cues on Data Check Worksheet. • Data Transfer Support from previous files. • Updated SB 7 website with new Support Request form. • Password reset available.

Affordable The annual licensing fee is $300 for members and $600 for non-members. Find the access request form at: http://www.iasasurveys.org

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Please note that previous versions of the IASA Senate Bill 7 Performance Rankings File are no longer supported. Also, the service method for the 2023–2024 software will be via email only.

This software was originally reviewed by the Senate Bill 7 teams from the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) and the Illinois Education Association (IEA). The 2023–2024 version of this software builds on the knowledge gained from hundreds of users.