Sean C. Morgan
The District 55 School Board gave Supt. Don Schrader a “satisfactory review,” just shy of “very good” earlier this month.
The superintendent is evaluated on a scale of zero to four. Zero is “unacceptable.” A one means “needs improvement.” A two means “satisfactory,” while a three is “very good” and four is “outstanding.”
Schrader’s average score was 2.8. In each of nine areas he received a 2.2 to 3.3, said board Chairman Jason Redick.
“It’s a pretty good rating, overall,” Redick said. “This being the second year, we’ve had a pretty good opportunity to see what he’s doing. It’s been a tough two years. It hasn’t been an easy transition.”
That difficulty is largely related to budget issues and the implementation of a four-day week.
“Me personally, I think he’s been doing a great job,” Redick said.
Schrader was rated in nine different categories, including leadership and district culture; policy and governance; communications and community relations; organizational management; curriculum planning and development; instructional leadership; human resources leadership; values and ethics of leadership; and labor relations.
Schrader scored highest in curriculum planning and development and second highest in instructional leadership.
The lowest scores were “satisfactory.”
“There was some direction from the board, just kind of the area of improving mostly around communication with the board,” Redick said.
Schrader said he received some “really good comments. I think it went very well.”
Following the evaluation, the board is negotiating compensation with Schrader for the third year of his contract and will consider whether to extend his contract, Redick said.
The board will look at setting goals at its August meeting, he said. “Those are kind of part of the standard we use to evaluate his performance – the goals and how they’re carried out.”