DeKalb school board selects Illinois firm for superintendent search

DeKalb Superintendent Dr. R. Stephen Green: "The answer to getting our schools off these lists requires a systematic solution ..... The solution begins with improving classroom instruction and outcomes.” Jonathan Phillips/Special

DeKalb Superintendent Dr. R. Stephen Green: "The answer to getting our schools off these lists requires a systematic solution ..... The solution begins with improving classroom instruction and outcomes.” Jonathan Phillips/Special

The DeKalb County Board of Education on Wednesday selected a search firm to lead efforts to find a new superintendent.

BWP & Associates, based in Libertyville, Ill., was selected during a special school board meeting from four firms that responded to the district's request  for a search firm to run the process that will replace Superintendent Steve Green. Green announced in May that he would leave at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. The board previously approved one-year contract extensions in 2016 and 2017, but did not do so in 2018 or this year.

Green did not attend the meeting.

Officials said board members would be contacted individually by the search firm as it begins working to determine the type of candidate that would best suit the district's needs. Residents and former school board leaders have said the next superintendent should be aware and know how to address challenges faced by the district's students as well as while being transparent, collaborative and be able to establish relationships within the community, among other things.