The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Board of Education voted 6-1 Monday, Aug. 17, to begin negotiations with Alma Advisory Group to lead the district's search for a permanent superintendent.
The Chicago-based executive search and consulting firm was selected from three finalists at a special board meeting. The other finalists were the Illinois Association of School Boards and Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates.
Board member Mya Wilkins cast the only dissenting vote. She questioned whether Alma's higher price was appropriate as the district works to address its financial challenges.
“I can't justify that big cost difference, given where we are as a district,” Wilkins said, according to The Daily Northwestern. She noted that the district needs to demonstrate to prospective superintendents that it is serious about controlling its budget.
District 65 ended fiscal year 2026 with a $3.4 million deficit, according to figures presented by Chief Financial Officer Eric Miller. The district's financial challenges have included higher-than-expected transportation and special education expenses and delays in Cook County property tax payments.
Why Alma
Alma is a boutique, women-of-color-led consulting and executive search firm. It has conducted superintendent searches for large school districts including Denver Public Schools and Baltimore City Public Schools. The firm also led Evanston Township High School District 202's 2022 search that resulted in the selection of Superintendent Marcus Campbell.
Alma proposed charging 32% of the new superintendent's projected salary, which the firm estimated at about $80,000. That was substantially more than the $11,400 proposed by IASB, which also offered additional services costing up to $21,900.
Several board members defended the investment. Board member Patricia S. Anderson described the expense as an investment in improving the district's performance, while Vice President Chris Van Nostrand said the search represents an opportunity to recruit a long-term leader for the district.
The board's selection was also shaped by the district's desire to conduct a broad search. District 65 has said it intends to seek input from students, staff, families and the wider community as it develops a leadership profile for the position.
Search timeline
Under Alma's proposed timeline, community outreach and development of a leadership profile would take place in September and October. Candidate recruitment would follow in the fall, with final interviews and background checks planned for January.
The district anticipates having its new superintendent begin July 1, 2027.
The board began the search after parting ways with former Superintendent Angel Turner in June. Turner and the district reached a mutual separation agreement, and Turner remained superintendent through June 30.
Dr. Eric Witherspoon became interim superintendent July 1 and is scheduled to serve through Dec. 31, 2026. Witherspoon previously served as superintendent of Evanston Township High School District 202 and brings more than four decades of experience in education and district leadership.
The district has said the search will be public, transparent and inclusive, with opportunities for community members to help shape the leadership profile and participate in forums involving finalists.
Alma's selection comes as District 65 works through a broader effort to address its structural deficit. The district's current deficit-reduction plan targets $16 million to $18 million in spending reductions by fiscal year 2030.
The board's vote Monday authorizes the selection of Alma as the preferred search firm; negotiations will determine the final agreement.
