Hinsdale D86 Micromanagement A Local Concern: Search Firm

HINSDALE, IL – A superintendent search firm in Hinsdale High School District 86 has said residents have frequently indicated that micromanagement is an issue.

Such a statement, a watchdog said, showed the firm was "ill-informed."

Since being hired in October, BWP & Associates has met with residents and conducted a survey as part of its search.

At a school board meeting last month, Bob McBride, a BWP consultant, said many perceive the local school board as micromanaging the operations of Central and South high schools.

He said board members may be aware of the state school boards association's analogy of the balcony and dance floor for the board and administration.

"That analogy, it may seem tired and a little bit shabby and worn, but it's an analogy that sometimes works," he said.

Each component of an organization, he said, understands its role and its biggest lever.

McBride also said a school board is typically not a character, except as the hiring agent. But he said that the data collected from residents indicates the board has been a "character of study" – the board's role and how it has fashioned its work.

"That's the difference I've seen," he said.

At this week's special board meeting, Hinsdale resident Linda Burke, a longtime district watchdog, suggested McBride's statements "cast an aspersion on our board."

"You are ill-informed about this community," Burke said. "We do talk about our board. Some people harshly criticize the board. A lot of that recently has been highly irresponsible and unfair. But talking to the board has been part of our culture. Criticizing and disagreeing with the board is part of our culture."

But she said the search firm would be mistaken if it thought the community did not oppose administration overreach.

"Many is the time that the community has appreciated the board for standing up to faddish, unpiloted and unsound approaches to curriculum," Burke said.

Another district watchdog, Kim Notaro, said the search firm's survey responses failed to represent residents' feelings.

"I've heard very little negative about the board in the public sessions with community members. We have gotten a lot of bad press, and it's not fair to you guys," Notaro told the board. "You have done an incredible job representing our community and students, and the community has a lot to be thankful for."

Notaro did not specify where the survey failed.

In the survey, nearly 450 respondents were given a dozen categories and asked to identify three as the district's significant strengths.

The top category was teachers and staff, which drew 61 percent. The next four highest were academic achievement (42 percent), educational opportunities and programs (37 percent), the community (32 percent) and the district's reputation (30 percent).

The lowest categories were the leadership team (4 percent) and financial management (3 percent).

In the last 2½ years, the district has seen much turnover in its administration. In that time, seven people have served in the role of superintendent. Five of them were interim leaders.

When the board interviewed three search firms in October, two mentioned the challenge of turnover, with BWP's representative calling it the "elephant in the room."

The current superintendent, Michael Lach, announced in August that he would retire next June, a year before his three-year contract was to expire.