Elmhurst Unit District 205 superintendent Dave Moyer has had his contract extended for two years.
Citing a host of accomplishments during Moyer’s 20 months on the job, the District 205 School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to add two years onto the Moyer’s contact, which was scheduled to expire in June 2018
“We are proud of the district’s accomplishments and because we believe Dr. Moyer is the best superintendent to keep the district moving forward,” the board is extending his contract, board President Shannon Ebner said, reading from a statement from the board.
“Dr. Moyer is a visionary leader who is committed to raising the bar and closing the achievement gap for all students,” Ebner said.
The salary and benefits for Moyer provided in his contract will continue in the new contract, according to Chris Blum, chairman of the board’s Finance and Operations Committee. Moyer’s base annual salary of $225,951 and benefits will be reviewed by the board at the end this school year, along with the salaries and benefits of all administrators, and “may be increased by a modest amount,” Blum said.
Blum said the board considered whether it should wait until after the new board is seated after the April 4 election before approving the contract extension.
“The board concluded that it was appropriate to act now, given that the current board hired Dr. Moyer and has closely evaluated his performance,” Blum said, also reading from a prepared statement. “This consensus was enhanced by the fact that there will only be one new member of the board, given that there are now only three candidates for the open three positions and two of the candidates are incumbents.”
Blum also said that acting on the contract now would help the district retain and recruit teachers and administrators this spring.
Some of Moyer’s listed accomplishments highlighted by the board::
* A record high ACT score for the 2016 graduating class of 24.7.
* York High School being one of 433 schools in the United States and Canada named to the AP District Honor Roll for having increased participation and maintained or improved pass rates in Advanced Placement classes during 2013-16.
* Eleven of the 12 schools in the district meeting or exceeding state standards in math.
* Successful pilot of the Eureka Math curriculum at the elementary and middle school levels, which will be implemented in all elementary classrooms in 2017-18.
* Successful second year of the Mobile Learning Implementation, utilizing Chromebooks in fourth through 12th grades.
* A community engagement campaign known as Focus 205 that has extended over a two-year period.
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* A balanced operating budget for fiscal year 2017.
* The district having the highest financial rating from the Illinois State Board of Education and fund balances above the minimum established in board policy.
Moyer’s vision has not always been embraced by all, Ebner pointed out.
“Ours is an involved community and change is always difficult, especially for the change agent,” Ebner said. “Together, we have stretched and grown.”
Ebner said an analysis of Moyer’s work over the past 20 months satisfied the board that that he has demonstrated progress toward meeting the district’s key performance indicators and outcomes.
Moyer credited District 205 staff members with making many of the results happen.
“We do have a staff of professionals and there is a direct correlation to quality work,” Moyer said.
Kevin Beese is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press