Schools
D86 Adds Temporary Position to Address Lack of Communication Plan
The new part-time communications director would help "develop a district communication plan," acting Superintendent Bruce Law said.
The District 86 Board of Education approved last week contracts with two staffing agencies tasked with filling several vacant full-time administrative positions with temporary employees while permanent replacements are found, and recommending another temporary employee for a new part-time position.
The Chatfield Group is the firm assigning a temp employee to serve as the district’s human resources director, while Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates is placing a temporary business director, curriculum director and part-time communications director.
District 86 does not currently have a position dedicated solely to communications.
“I’m recommending that we put a part-time person in communication so we can develop a district communication plan,” acting Superintendent Bruce Law said during the Aug. 28 special meeting of the board at Hinsdale South.
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A report from the district's administration to the board says the communications position will be filled by someone who will "work with administration to craft a communications plan that can be implemented by existing staff. There is no intention that this temporary job will become a full time position."
Law said that though Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South each do a good job staying in touch with their communities, but the district as a whole is lacking the “systematic, thoughtful” approach to communication he hopes the new temporary employee would help implement.
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“The more people know about the good things in the district, the better it is for the community, the better it is for the school district,” Law said.
He later said, “With all the forms of communication that are available today, it’s worth bringing in someone who’s a communications specialist in order to formulate a plan for communications.”
The business director and human resources director positions have become vacant in recent months following the departures, respectively, of Jeff Eagan and Troy Courtney.
Law, the former assistant superintendent for instruction, took over as acting superintendent after Wahl departure, leading to a vacancy in the curriculum department.
The temporary employees will work through at least the end of this school year’s first semester, which ends on Jan. 17. The administration and board at that time would determine what needs are going forward.
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