The Proviso High School District 209 board of education extended Alexander Aschoff’s contract to serve as interim superintendent for the upcoming school year.
The appointment was approved during a special board of education meeting held Thursday, June 27, in a 5-1 vote. Board member Arbdella Patterson cast the dissenting vote. Board member Rodney Alexander was absent.
The item was discussed in closed session and Aschoff’s appointment is “pending legal review.”
Aschoff has been serving as one of the two interim superintendents appointed following the approved medical leave of Bessie Karvelas, who served as interim following the resignation of James L. Henderson in August 2023.
Since July 1, Aschoff has been the only interim superintendent serving Proviso.
Luke Pavone, who served alongside Aschoff, will be returning to primary role as deputy superintendent of operational services.
“It has been a privilege to have been given the opportunity to work alongside Alex Aschoff as the interim superintendents since February 2024,” Pavone told Forest Park Review.
“It has been the greatest honor and privilege of my 20-year career at Proviso to serve as its interim superintendent, and I am thrilled to be given the ability to continue this important work leading into the 2024-2025 school year,” Aschoff said.
The district had narrowed its search for a permanent replacement to three candidates before the process appeared to come to a halt in April.
That month during a meeting, Patterson said the search was “not done fairly,” and called for it to be conducted again, adding that one of the candidates said he was not welcomed. A few community members had also expressed concerns including the diversity of the district represented in the hire, questioning individual candidates experience, and wanting stronger community input.
Samuel Valtierrez, who was appointed board president May 14, confirmed that the search was continuing.
“So, for all those newspapers or whoever is here who writes, we are continuing the search as you already know,” Valtierrez said.
He did not reply to requests for comment about Aschoff’s reappointment and about updates on the superintendent search.
Aschoff said that as the board continues to try to find a superintendent, he said he is focused on the mission: “Pursuit of nothing but the best.”
“I wholeheartedly believe in this mission, and it speaks to the importance of finding a superintendent,” Aschoff said. “We need the absolute best superintendent to lead our district, and I trust the board to fulfill this duty.”
As far as serving during a challenging year, Pavone said the team really “pulled together” to support one another, acknowledging the hard work from “all the negotiations teams” as three D209 bargain units ratified new contracts during this past school year.
“This was no small task,” he said. “I personally believe this speaks volumes to the commitment and dedication of all staff to listen to one another and collaborate to try and resolve any actual or perceived issues.”
Pavone said he will be focused on working alongside his team to fill as many vacant positions as possible for the 2024-25 school year.
“I am confident that we will be able to attract more teaching candidates with our new Proviso Teachers Union Collective Bargaining Agreement,” Pavone said. “The new CBA positions D209 as a more competitive school district due to our new salary schedule.”
Pavone added they are also focused on wanting to find “experienced and qualified’ administrative candidates.
“We are working to attract more qualified candidates for our ‘hard to fill’ vacancies in the areas of special education, English Learner and Bilingual Education. D209 is working hard to serve the needs of our diverse student population.”
Aschoff said he was “extremely grateful” to have served alongside Pavone for he is a “strong educational leader.”
“The Proviso Community is strong because we have the best students, teachers, and parents,” Aschoff said. “I am eager to continue working with our stakeholders and the board of education.”