Oak Park Elementary District 97 has a new co-interim superintendent.
Following the December resignation for health reasons of co-interim superintendent Patricia Wernet the District 97 school board named current assistant superintendent of elementary schools Patrick Robinson to serve as a co-interim superintendent with Griff Powell until June 30.
Wernet and Powell, both retired superintendents, were named as co-interim superintendents in September following the still unexplained and sudden resignation of former superintendent Ushma Shah in August, the week before the start of the new school year. Robinson served as the acting superintendent for a few weeks immediately after Shah resigned and before Wernet and Powell were hired.
Wernet’s last day was Dec. 19. Robinson began sharing the interim superintendent position with Powell on Jan. 1. Robinson’s appointment to the co-interim superintendent position was approved by the school board at its Dec. 9 meeting by a vote of 5-0 with two board members absent.
“This was not an easy decision,” Wernet said in a statement that was posted on the District 97 website and sent to families. “I will be undergoing a medical procedure and it became clear that stepping away before winter break is the most responsible choice for the district. Making this transition in December will allow for an orderly handoff as the board continues its work to identify the district’s next superintendent.”
Under the new arrangement Robinson will assume day-to-day control of district operations with Powell working just one day a week. Powell will continue to be paid the same $1,500 a day salary that he and Wernet have been receiving. Robinson will receive a $5,000 stipend for his work as co-interim superintendent in addition to his regular assistant superintendent annual salary of $177,108.
At the Jan. 13 school board meeting, during which Robinson sat at the board table, Powell noted that the district is saving a significant amount of money by appointing Robinson as a co-interim superintendent instead of hiring another retired superintendent to work a few days a week as he and Wernet had been doing.
“May I point out that the board is saving $120,000 by this action,” Powell said.
Before being named assistant superintendent of elementary schools in 2023 Robinson, 43, served as the principal of Oak Park’s Whittier School for five years. Before being hired as the principal at Whittier Robinson worked at Urban Prep Academies as a principal and director of curriculum and instruction. He also worked as teacher in the Chicago Public Schools and began his career as a second and third grade teacher in Galesburg.
Robinson graduated from Monmouth College in 2004 and is expected to receive a doctorate in education from Concordia University this year.
Superintendent search enters final stages
Next week on Jan 26 and Jan 27 the District 97 Board of Education is expected to interview six to eight finalists for the permanent superintendent position. After interviewing the six to eight candidates the board will narrow the field to two or three finalists. The finalists will then participate in a virtual town hall on Zoom on Jan. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m.
“The purpose of the townhall will be to introduce the final candidates to the community and it will give the community an opportunity to hear directly from them,” said Amanda Siegfried, the communications director for District 97.
Seigfried said those who watch the town hall will be given an opportunity to complete a survey and give their opinions of the finalists.
“It’s an opportunity to hear from the candidates and also kind of engage in the process and provide some input,” Siegfried said. “All that feedback will be provided to the board and it will certainly be one piece of information that they use as they are making their decision.”
The board hopes to hire the next superintendent in February although the person hired will not take over until July 1.
“The goal is to name our candidate as early as possible in February,” Siegfried said.
It is not clear if Patrick Robinson has applied for the permanent superintendent position. Wednesday Journal asked to interview Robinson but Siegfried said that Robinson was very busy and asked that the Journal submit questions in writing. The Journal, in addition to asking for information about Robinson’s background, asked if Robinson had applied for the permanent superintendent position and whether he would be one of the semifinalists. District 97 provided information about Robinson’s background but declined to say whether he had applied to become the next superintendent.
“With regard to the superintendent search, the district does not comment on who has or has not applied,” Siegfried said in an email. “As is standard practice, applicant identities remain confidential until finalists are formally named by the board. This approach protects the integrity of the process and ensures fairness for all involved.”
Dr. Luis Fernando De Leon, District 97’s assistant superintendent for middle schools, told Wednesday Journal that he did not apply for the superintendent job.
