GRCC task force announces business community expectations for new RPS205 superintendent

Earlier this year, the GRCC Board of Directors assembled a task force comprised of members from the Government Affairs and Talent Committees with the objective of capturing the voice of business in relation to the RPS205 Board of Education’s efforts to recruit a new superintendent. The selection of this new leader directly affects our largest school district’s work in preparing our future workforce. In addition, RPS205 is one of our largest employers and manages a budget of more than half a billion dollars.

Strong, well-managed schools are vital to attracting talent and businesses to the Rockford Region, so the task force members took their work seriously. They have been meeting weekly under the leadership of Paula Carynski, formerly of OSF St. Anthony, to research, discuss, and define the business perspective on what’s needed from the administrator who will assume one of the most important jobs in our region.

Recognizing that our schools are critical to business and talent retention and attraction, these expectations are prioritized based on which elements could have the greatest impact in improving our region’s largest school district and preparing our students to enter college, career, trade school, or military.

Business community’s expectations for new superintendent, as approved by the GRCC Board of Directors:

A. Strong business acumen in managing the assets, income, and expenses of one of our largest tax-funded institutions. Understanding of property taxes as the basis of funding, including local and state regulations governing tax rates and revenue and the process for certifying the district’s annual tax levy. Success in this area is evidenced by efficient management and low tax rates that attract households to the district and talent and companies to the region.

B. Experience in addressing chronic absenteeism and strategies to employ community stakeholders and organizations in increasing student attendance. Success in this area is evidenced by improvement in the chronic absenteeism scores to exceed state averages, at a minimum.

C. Understanding of the challenging demographics of our student body and our community’s passion for working together to support our scholars, especially in training and retaining RPS students within our workforce. Success in this area is evidenced by:

a. Elevated engagement with businesses in Illinois Board of Education pathways, Academy model, Quad programs, Instructional Council, and other areas that leverage our expertise.
b. Appointment of business representatives on Operations Committee.
c. Ninth grade on track and graduation rates that exceed state averages, at a minimum.
d. Documented post-graduation placements in college, career, trade school, or military.

D. Commitment to increasing students’ proficiency in math and English language arts. Success in this area is evidenced by achieving scores that exceed state averages at a minimum.

E. Commitment to integrating employability skills into classroom teaching and extracurricular activities with clear metrics that are regularly reported to evaluate students’ improvements. Success in this area is evidenced by collaborating with the business community to set goals and achieve targets.

F. Strength in leading a workforce that’s partly represented by a union with respect, collaboration, and a focus on students and families. Skills in negotiation, communication, and providing feedback. Success in this area is evidenced by employee retention and recruitment, strong cultures within the schools, and teacher and administrator support of the district.

In the spirit of collaboration, GRCC offers the following in support of RPS205:

• Ongoing involvement with the board of education and administration.
• Organizing a Welcoming Committee of community leaders to provide regular insight and support as the superintendent is onboarded into the role.
• Recruiting business leaders for consideration in appointed roles such as the Instructional Council and Operations Committee.
• Rallying the business community to assist with initiatives that drive improvements in the areas outlined above.