In an attempt to engage the public and improve education, the new St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 superintendent laid out his top three goals Saturday during a special School Board meeting.

The meeting was one of the first indications that new Superintendent Donald Schlomann’s leadership style will differ from that of former Superintendent Barbara Erwin, who was accused of secretive decision-making. Goal-planning meetings had been held in closed session under Erwin.

“If we put it behind closed doors, it seems like we’re trying to hide things,” Schlomann said. “(Residents) need to understand where their tax dollars are being spent.”

First on Schlomann’s list of goals is improving dialogue between the district and the community. If the goals are approved by the board in September, the district would hire UNICOM•ARC or another consultant company to implement a comprehensive communications plan.

“If we listen to the community and actually do what the community wants then we can start gaining some trust (back),” Superintendent Donald Schlomann said. “What we can’t do is listen to the community and then do the opposite.”

The consultation contract would cost about $11,000 per month and come from the $300,000 set aside for a facilities study, Schlomann said.

Schlomann also wants to implement the Professional Learning Community principals throughout the district. The PLC calls for evaluating individual students and changing styles to meet each student.

Schlomann’s third goal seeks to improve instruction by creating a framework for staff development. Schlomann said the goals aim to change the culture of the district.
“Culture doesn’t change overnight,” Schlomann said. “We need to listen to the community about what kind of culture they want to see.”

The St. Charles Education Association will have to approve the instructional changes before contract negotiations begin next fall. President Pam Turriff said she expects the teachers association to take up discussion this spring.

“I think Dr. Schlomann’s ideas are really good,” Turriff said, adding that teachers who attended a recent PLC conference seemed excited about the model.

Turriff said contract negotiations will have to include discussion on how to build enough time into school days to implement the changes.

Schlomann officially took over as head of District 303 on July 1, following a tumultuous departure by Erwin.

The School Board was recently sanctioned by the Kane County State’s Attorney John Barsanti for illegally approving an amendment to Erwin’s contract in 2005. Board member Chris Hansen resigned last month, while Jim Gaffney and Kathy Hewell face repeated calls from the community for their resignation.