With current superintendent Carol Kelley leaving at the end of the school year, the Oak Park District 97 school board has appointed two interim superintendents to take over leadership of the district this summer.
During its April 27 meeting, the school board appointed Griff Powell and Patricia Wernet to serve as co-interim superintendents for 2021-22 while a formal search for a permanent superintendent is conducted.
Powell and Wernet are both retired educators with decades of experience as permanent and interim superintendents. They recently worked together during the 2016-17 school year as co-interim superintendents of Glenview School District 34.
“We are honored to join the District 97 community and look forward to working with the board, students, staff and parents to further advance the vision of the district,” Wernet said. “We are here to provide support and are committed to working with both the current administration and future superintendent to ensure a seamless leadership transition.”
Wernet has more than 25 years of experience, including a four-year stint as superintendent of Berwyn School District 100 and four years as superintendent of Lisle Community Unit School District 202. She has also served as an interim superintendent of Frankfort School District 157-C, Lombard School District 44, Glenview School District 34 and Berwyn District 98.
Powell has more than 40 years of experience as an educational leader, serving as a superintendent in five school districts during his career, including Grayslake Community High School District 127, Highwood-Highland Park District 111, Ramapo Central School District in New York, West Chicago High School District 94 and Niles Township High School District 219.
Since retiring, Powell has served as an interim superintendent for 10 school districts, including Berwyn District 100, Rich Township District 227, Lyons Elementary District 103, Riverside District 96, Glenview District 34, West Harvey-Dixmoor District 147 and Country Club Hills District 160.
Each will be paid $1,100 per day they work, which officials say is “in line” with market value pay rates for interim superintendents. The two will not receive any benefits and District 97 will not make any contributions to the Teachers’ Retirement System on their behalf, which will lead to an overall cost savings for the position next year, administrators said.
Powell is currently serving as the interim superintendent in DeKalb Community School District 428, and will begin his new role in Oak Park on July 1. Wernet is likely to begin sooner given her availability, officials said.
“Dr. Wernet and I are both collaborative leaders and welcome input from all stakeholders,” Powell said. “We will dedicate ourselves to serve the students of District 97 by providing the necessary resources and support for our administrators and staff members. Our goal is to maintain stability in the district, allowing the district board to focus on their most important decision—the hiring of a permanent superintendent.”
District 97 chose to hire two temporary superintendents due to an Illinois law limiting the number of days a retired superintendent can work each school year. Both Wernet and Powell are expected to divide responsibilities and workdays, as needed, and a schedule will be established once both are able to meet the school board and administrative staff.
“Wernet and Powell both come with stellar recommendations and a wealth of experience effectively leading school districts in Illinois, both as permanent superintendents and as interim superintendents,” District 97 board president Jung Kim said. “They bring experience working in school districts with diverse student bodies. We are confident they will provide effective, steady leadership to District 97 and help ensure our next permanent superintendent starts their tenure on strong footing.”
In the coming weeks, board members will begin evaluating search firms to assist with the permanent superintendent search, which will occur during the upcoming school year.
sschering@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter: @steveschering