Dist. 46 Sees More Turnover at Principal Position

Prairie Grove Jr. High School Principal Chad May leaves his position this June to take on an administrative position with the Barrington School District in August. 

May said he accepted the position at Barrington because he will have the opportunity to work in his area of specialization—curriculum, special education and instructional practices. 

“I want to be in the area I’m most passionate about,” he said. 

May is the fifth junior high school principal to leave Prairie Grove School District 46 over the past nine years; and the second to do so after only two school terms—Christopher Collins held the position two years from 2002 to 2004. Ross Vitore and Rocky May stayed only one year, from 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 respectively. 

May replaced Gregory Urbaniak in 2009 when he became the district’s curriculum director. Urbaniak served as principal from 2006-2009. Urbaniak left the curriculum position a year later. 

Reasons for the turnover are varied and somewhat of a mystery to Superintendent Dr. Lynette Zimmer, who has one year on the job, and to the school board which has three new members. 

Zimmer said she’s heard the rumors the school may be an attractive stepping stone to other jobs in the area, but doesn’t know if that is true. 

She said reasons provided by departing principals included better opportunities, commutes and pay. 

May’s departure gave the district pause to reconsider how it manages its two schools–the junior high for grades 6 through 8 and the K-5 Prairie Grove Elementary School. 

Rather than continuing with two principals at both schools, one administration team will head both. Vic Wight, currently principal at the elementary school, will become principal of both schools and fifth-grade teacher Beth Klinsky will serve as assistant principal.

School Board President Vickie Marconi supported the change, saying with Wight heading up both schools it was a good fit for the district. 

“I think internally it was probably the best step for everybody right now,” she said. 

Wight and Klinsky are long-time employees–Wight has been at the district six years–and Zimmer is hopeful the turnover pattern plaguing the school will end with their appointments. 

“They certainly have that loyalty factor already played in, but also they’re really well received by parents so we feel good knowing we’re going in with a proven entity,” she said. 

Zimmer added cost played another factor in the decision, particularly with today’s economy. Smaller enrollments were another consideration. In the past five years enrollment has dropped by about 100 students overall.

Last year the district did not fill a vacant assistant principal position, opting to divvy up the work between administrators. Based on the success of that venture, the district felt one principal and one assistant principal could handle all the duties of both schools, Marconi said. 

The turnover of principals at the junior high school hasn’t negatively impacted the district’s ISAT test scores, which is 93 percent–one point higher than last year. It tied with Cary School District for highest in McHenry County, outperforming students in Barrington, North Shore and Naperville school districts. 

Zimmer credits the leadership and staff at the schools for that achievement, as well as the district’s Response to Intervention (RTI) programs, which focuses on helping students performing below grade level. 

May expanded the district’s existing RTI reading program and established the math and behavioral intervention components during his tenure as principal. He said the RTI program was the number one factor that helped the district’s test scores soar. 

Both schools have received Illinois’ Academic Excellence Award and the district received the Bright Red Apple and Bright Star awards which recognize high test scores combined with low per-pupil expenditures.