Board selects Hazard Young Atia Associates for superintendent search after heated DEI and responsiveness debate

The Township High School District 211 Board of Education voted to engage Hazard Young Atia Associates as the district’s executive search firm for an amount not to exceed $35,000, following a prolonged debate about firm responsiveness, price and equity practices.

Supporters of Hazard Young Atia (HYA) said timeliness and professionalism in responding to board requests mattered when judging proposals. Opponents argued that Alma (the competing firm) better articulated an equity‑centered approach but failed to provide requested follow‑up information and thus could not be fully vetted. "When we're asked for information and you fail to give that to us as an executive search firm, I find that to be unprofessional," a trustee said during the debate.

Board members exchanged examples: HYA presented demographic summaries of candidate slates for prior placements and a candidate dashboard, while board members who preferred Alma noted Alma’s stated DEI focus and raised concerns that Alma did not return additional requested materials. The motion to hire HYA carried on a roll call of 4–3 (yes: Rosenblum, Cavell, Baron, Kimowitz; no: Dum browski, Bradley, Macwan). The board chair said the administration will ask the selected firm to appear at the June board meeting and to provide written answers to outstanding equity questions.

The board’s discussion emphasized that trustees retain control over vetting candidates and can send a slate back to the search firm if the recommended pool does not meet the board’s expectations. Several trustees said they expect the search firm to provide recruitment, screening and demographic data to ensure a diverse slate.

Next steps: the administration will schedule the firm for the June meeting, provide the board with the firm’s candidate sourcing and diversity information, and the board will set specific expectations and competencies for candidates during the search process.