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Dr. Constance Collins,
District 97
superintendent |
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Collins a finalist for Lake County supt.
For the second time in 15 months, D97 leader interviews elsewhere
By TERRY DEAN
Staff Reporter
First reported 3/11/2010 12:01 p.m.
It was a little over a year ago that District 97 Superintendent Constance Collins interviewed for a similar job in another school district.
Fifteen months later, she's a finalist to become superintendent in northwest suburban Lake County. Speaking to Wednesday Journal Friday, Collins did not want to comment about the position in Round Lake School District 116, but District 97 did confirm last Wednesday that she's in the running.
"The board is aware that Dr. Collins has been named as a finalist for the superintendent position in Round Lake Area Schools District 116. However, nothing has been finalized yet, nor does the board know District 116's timeline for filling this position," Chris Jasculca, the spokesman for District 97, said last week.
Two District 97 school board members declined to comment on Collins job search. Other board members did not return calls.
In the fall of 2008, Collins was a finalist for superintendent at a school district in LaGrange. Another person was hired for that job. At the time, Collins said her decision to interview for the position was not a matter of any displeasure in working for District 97.
But to have a superintendent looking to work somewhere else doesn't bode well for a school district, said Sharon Patchak-Layman, a former Dist. 97 board member who's now serving on the Dist. 200 Board of Education.
"If someone is looking elsewhere or thinking about it, it's hard to assess their commitment to their district. It's kind of a wandering eye situation," she said.
Patchak-Layman was on the board that hired Collins in 2005. She abstained from voting on the hire because, "I had more questions than I could get answered so I didn't feel that I could vote either way."
Patchak-Layman recalled that former Dist. 97 Superintendent John Fagan frequently turned down job offers when approached, telling suitors that he wasn't interested and was happy where he was.
"You only start looking at other places when you're restless, and when you're restless I think it makes it difficult for the district to do that type of programming and planning that it needs to do," she said.
Dist. 97 has set its sights on running a tax hike referendum to fund operations in spring 2011 after nearly a decade of dwindling fund balances, deficit spending and annual budget cuts.
Collins, who came to District 97 in July 2005 from a superintendent post in Zion, is the first woman and the first black to be superintendent of Oak Park's elementary district. She replaced Fagan who was retiring. After signing a three-year contract here in 2005, she received another three-deal in 2008, which includes a salary bump each year. Collins is in the second year of the contract, earning about $201,000 this year.
DeWitt Kelly, co-chair of Lincoln School's PTO, was unaware that Collins was interviewing elsewhere. Kelly said he hopes she stays, maintaining that Collins has done a good job in the district. He cited her introduction of PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention Support) to Oak Park's elementary district as just one example of her contributions.
The possibility of getting a new superintendent while trying to pass a referendum next year is a concern for Kelly. But his frustration about that, he said, is directed at the District 97 school board, not Collins.
"I think it's a question of judgment by the board in selecting any candidate that's looking. The other concern is why the superintendent is looking elsewhere. What's occurring or not occurring in the district to drive her to leave?"
Concerning the status of its search, Round Lake's CEO Ben Martindale said, "The board looked at a variety of candidates, including internal and external, and is in the final stages of making a decision."
The district, he added, looks to hire a superintendent to start July 1.
CONTACT: tdean@wjinc.com
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Reader Comments
Posted: Monday, March 22, 2010
Article comment by:
Rick Carten
It is more than time for her to go. It is obvious that she cares about herself far more than for those she is paid very well to lead.
I have very good information that Kevin Anderson, her number 2, is also a finalist for a superintendent's job in Bellwood. Looks like an all-out bailout to me. We need to get things right this time and hire some effective leadership going forward.
Posted: Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Article comment by:
Shanghai Sidio
@jstrokosch and @rjohnson: Lack of respect for our institutions, really? Do failed and or corrupt institutions deserve our respect? Oak Park is controlled by one party, a system that has been in place for almost 60 years. It is people like @jstrokosch and @rjohnson, card carrying supporters of the VMA that are part of the problem. The VMA and it's supporters have helped to destroy the institutions you both claim we should respect.
Dr. Collins is not welcome in Oak Park, citizen Collins will always be quite welcome. Funny how people blinded by the power they possess cannot see or choose not to see such obvious distinctions in political debate. @jstrokosch is a professional political consultant who supports the tyrannical VMA. @rjohnson is power happy minion of the VMA tax dollar wasting machine. I think the majority of the "Hippy" inspired Oak Park population would be shocked to find out how many conservative Republicans control the politics of "liberal" Oak Park. Has anyone ever noticed which side of the the aisle the current Village Manager and the Village Trustees vote for in real and semi fair state and national elections?
To be fair to @jstrokosch and @rjohnson, Dan Haley, the publisher of this weekly neighborhood newsletter also swallowed the VMA kook-aid, oops kool-aid long ago. Mr. Haley is I'll bet looking forward to a generous discount on hotel rooms in exchange for supporting another VMA/ Wednesday Gerbil boondoggle in Oak Park. The joke will of course be on Mr. Haley as any discount he receives from his cronies in the VMA will pale in comparison to discounts available to all on priceline.com. When 90% of the rooms are empty on any given day priceline.com will be practically giving them away. Hell if William Shatner lives long enough he might even swing buy and use the "Boondoggle Hotel" to shoot a TV commercial. Maybe not though, as the hotelier will most likely be Motel Six, the Red Roof Inn or something far worse and I am not sure if even priceline.com stoops that low?
As to Dr. Collins, most PHd's in education are, unlike real Doctoral degrees, completed by committee with each individual candidate responsible for 10-15 pages of the dissertation. So no matter who the district hires next, District 97 as well as all other school districts will always be hampered by this PHd "Lite" syndrome pervades higher education. The best and brightest of the academic world are rarely to be found with PHd's in education.
Also if you reply enough to the supposed news stories on the Gerbils website you realize that Dan Haley and his crew like to rearrange the order of the postings submitted to better reflect the political outcome desired by the VMA/Wednesday Gerbil crew.
Posted: Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Article comment by:
Jassen Strokosch
Thank you Mr. Johnson for commenting. You asked the important question, "...do we allow the politics of personal destruction and cynicism drive talented executives out?" Not only is this a great question as it pertains to Dr. Collins leaving, but also to securing our next superintendent.
Regardless of how anyone feels about the job Dr. Collins has done in her time here, it is sad to see such angry and disrespectful comments posted here. To call Dr. Collins "bad rubbish" is just mean and spiteful. Convincing highly qualified candidates to apply for the superintendents job at either D97 or D200 is a difficult enough task as it is.
As for the comment, "It is time to go Dr. Collins, you are no longer welcome in Oak Park!" Thank goodness you don't speak for Oak Park. Regardless of her status as a superintendent, she is also a resident with family ties to Oak Park. I would hope we can still welcome people in our community that we don't agree with.
Lastly, I would encourage those who feel so strongly about the job Dr. Collins and the D97 board are doing to show up at board meeting and give some input. There are more parent comments on this story than there are parents in attendance at most D97 board meetings. Better yet, run for office! In the last D97 board election, the candidates ran unopposed.
Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010
Article comment by:
D97 Parent
Mr. Johnson,
I may not agree with much, if anything, said in the comments, but if you, as a Village Board member, consider the Terry Dean article where Dr. Collins publicly blamed her principals for the lack of minority hiring in the District last year as "posivie action" and representing "leadership", then maybe Oak Park citizens have valid reasons to question their public institutions, including their Village board.
Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010
Article comment by:
Ray Johnson - Village Trustee
The Lincoln School PTO Co-President asks, "What's occurring or not occurring in the district to drive her to leave?"
I think its a profound question every citizen should reflect on.
It's no secret we have very high expectations for our community, but do we give our executives the space they need to execute on those expectations? To set or adjust them when necessary? To manage them?
Or, as is reflected by some of the comments already posted here, do we allow the politics of personal destruction and cynicism drive talented executives out.
In light of some emails I myself have received recently, its clear that too many have a complete lack of respect for our institutions.
To Dr. Collins, whatever you decide, you should continue to hold your head high as your legacy is one of positive action on behalf of all in District 97 and I have always seen you well prepared, skilled, analytical, while successfully seeking consesus. You represent leadership.
If you do 'move North', I wish you nothing but the best and for all District 97 parents and students, and the broader community, I think we need a conversation about how we, as a community, interact with our key administrators or executives.
We can and must do better if we are to attract and retain the very best.
Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010
Article comment by:
John
Please! Someone call her a cab. Then perhaps the District can revert back to a kind, gentle organization that is focused on the children, their teachers and the SCHOOL administrators. Then perhaps the District can focus less on testing the tests, and focus more on the true task of education.
I suspect a significant savings will accrue when all of the Assistant Superintendents Dr. Collins has hired - doing what - leave with her. How top heavy and District Office focus this administration has become is both an indictment of the Superintendent, and the School Board itself. Maybe it's time for the Board to send out resumes, as well, or start spending more time with the teachers and SCHOOL administrators.
Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010
Article comment by:
Rob
Good riddance! Don't let the door hit you in the backside before you
abandon your post and in a time of such great crisis no less!
District 200 needs leaders of the highest moral character. I doubt
anyone in our village is surprised by the news that Dr. Collins is
seeking a new position elsewhere as a schools chief. It would
be especially surprising to find out that the school principals in
the district and the staff at the administration offices were at all taken aback by this maneuver.
The students, staff and taxpayers of District 97 need a leader who
cares about them, not their own personal wealth and development. School funding is in crisis in Illinois. Many districts including District 97 may be well
shuttered in the 2012-2013 school year. Billions of dollars must be raised in the form of higher state taxes. With both sides of the legislative aisle in Springfield more deserving of the proverbial firing squad then reelection, the prospects for education in the state of Illinois are beyond grim!
The state simply has no money to keep the doors open. Wealthy districts
like OPRF's District 200 with almost 100 million in cash reserves will
continue to operate. Is Dr. Collins running to a district that like District 200 can keep its doors open and her salary flowing? Maybe she is an oracle? Does she see the writing on the walls? Who better
to predict impending doom then the very leader of the doomed organization.
It is time for the board to own up to the fact that their previous
counterparts made a huge mistake in hiring Dr. Collins. Her
dismissal should be pursued with extreme prejudice. She has proven
her desires time and time again and they have little to do with the
well being of our schools. She must go! If only for the sake of our
childrens continued education.
The next leader needs not too be concerned with acquiring a CEO's lifestyle, exorbitant salary and benefit package. They need to not be concerned
with advancing their own prurient selfish interest. The next leader of District 97 should earn no more then 25% of the highest teacher salary
in the district. There are plenty of excellent Dr's of Education who
care more about the well being of students then they do keeping up
appearances around their neighborhood! Most importantly they need
compassion for our precious children. They need to set an example for the students of District 97 that morality and hard work mean something
in these days when Wall Street bankers bilk trillions out of Americans pockets. Greed that has put America's economic survival at risk. They need to be concerned about the very survival of our schools! They need to lead instead of being motivated by Wall Street style greed!
I wish I could lower my standards, if only briefly and write a glowing
recommendation for Dr. Collins and submit it to the school board in
Round Lake Beach. I guess all I can do is keep my fingers crossed
she gets the job. It is time to go Dr. Collins, you are no longer welcome
in Oak Park!
Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010
Article comment by:
Les Golden
It's clear that Constance is not constant, nor capable: 1. Her non-stop job searching shows she has no interest in serving the people of Oak Park. (How many additional jobs has she applied for without getting to the finalist stage that is publicly announced?) 2. She has repeatedly displayed incompetence -- let me count the ways -- a) failing to keep finances in order so that a tax-increase referendum must be in the planning, b) allowing a gay issue to fester without guidance or leadership, c) allowing the theft of huge sums by a high level administrator, d) failing to reduce the grade gap (despite the renaming of Emerson School which was ludicrously supported by do-gooders on the very premise of encouraging minority achievement), e) allowing the park district to appropriate school land without her knowledge, and then having the school board cover for her incompetence, f) the squandering of $20,000 to $40,000 in landscaping costs due to lack of oversight and maintenance of grounds resulting from the drought of several years ago, g) causing a decrease of morale among staff.
The district is going bankrupt on her watch the referendum is doomed to failure, and she wants to jump ship before her resume is tarnished. That indicates a manipulative, conniving, self-interested person, not one who is interested in public service, here or anywhere else.
Break her contract get rid of her. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Our tax dollars ($275,000 including benefits) are being used so she can write up her resume. Find someone who is capable, and more interested in the education of Oak Park students than in the progress of her own career.
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