A divided Peoria Public Schools Board of Education voted Monday to move forward with a Texas-based search firm to find a replacement for outgoing superintendent Sharon Kherat.
The move comes two weeks after an original vote to approve From the Heart International Educational Services was postponed, and amid concerns raised by members of the public regarding a lack of transparency and potential conflicts of interest.
From the Heart was one of six firms to submit applications, along with McPherson & Jacobson, BWP & Associates, Student Center Services, Hazard Young Attea Associates, and the Illinois Association of School Boards.
“Things I liked about From the Heart were the year of coaching they offer afterwards, as well as their retreat that they do to facilitate a relationship between the superintendent and the board. However, those are things that we could probably ask any firm to do afterwards, and so they're not reasons to hire From the Heart,” said board member Christina Rose, who was joined by vice president Paris McConnell and Brenda Wilson in voting against the proposal.
The board’s action item stated the goal of hiring a search firm is to identify and recruit “highly effective Superintendent candidates that best fit the needs of the District and its community.”
Four community members spoke against hiring From the Heart, raising concerns about CEO Walter Milton, who also is the founder of the Black History 365 curriculum in use at Peoria schools.
Additionally, part of the reason the originally scheduled vote was postponed had to do with From the Heart prematurely posting the superintendent opening online before the firm was hired and before receiving the board’s approval. That posting included inaccurate information about the district’s size and other job requirements.
“We have questions, and honestly, if you don't come clean and talk to us as taxpayers and residents, all of this will come out at some point, and it will cause distress and issues, not only for this search, but for that future candidate, and for you as board members,” said community activist Andres Diaz.
McConnell sought to dispel what she called “misinformation” spread about the process.
“It’s not only us who must have integrity. It is all of us; parents, everybody who talks in the mic. Our goal is to be respectful, to be decent and to be kind,” said McConnell. “Some people tend to lean to personal attacks, which is not professional and it's not healthy. This board does have integrity.”
Kherat announced in July that the current academic year would be her last as Peoria’s superintendent. She has expressed a preference to have her replacement selected by February so she can assist with the transition.
