The Riverside School District 96 Board of Education heard presentations from two superintendent search firms at its meeting March 18, and expects to choose one of them within the next four to eight weeks.
The board interviewed Libertyville-based BWP & Associates and Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA) of Arlington Heights. The pair were chosen from a field of five firms, each of which provided a proposal, according to board vice president David Barsotti, chair of the personnel committee.
“What we’re looking for in a search firm is one that’s going to help us find the best qualified candidate for the district, the students and for the taxpayers,” Barsotti said, adding the board is seeking a candidate that will be in that role for a decade or more. “We want a firm that will provide a diverse pool of applicants.”
Dr. Martha Ryan-Toye, the current long-time superintendent, is retiring after the 2026-27 school year. Her replacement should be hired by December, said Barsotti, who said he is working closely with district interim finance director Dr. Mark Kuzniewski on the search process.
Kuzniewski is the former superintendent of Brookfield-La Grange Park School District 95 and is retiring at the end of this school year. He will be replaced by Steve Wilder.
BWP president Mark Friedman said March 18 that his firm headed up District 95’s search for Kuzniewski’s replacement, Ryan Evans. BWP also conducted the search for River Forest School District 90’s new superintendent, Janice Pavelonis, who was approved by that district’s board in January.
Barsotti said that among the things the new superintendent will be responsible for will be execution of the district’s new strategic plan that could be approved this summer. The strategic planning committee, which includes parents, residents, teachers and students along with board members, is currently developing goals and objectives related to the plan.
“Martha has done a lot of great stuff and we want to keep this momentum going,” he said. “We want to see a superintendent that will move forward the strategic plan. There are many things, but that is the main thing.”
He added that he would work with the selected firm to determine how to manage internal candidates for superintendent.
BWP’s Friedman pointed out that the search process should be a collaborative effort for the board.
“In talking to Mark [Kuzniewski], this is the first experience for all of you, or most of you, in hiring a superintendent,” he said. “We have to make sure we’re bringing you along with us. It’s a learning experience for you, and a mentoring experience for us.”
HYA’s recent search experience includes working with Lyons Township High School District 204. It has also conducted searches for Lake Forest Elementary School District 87 and Oak Park and River Forest School District 200.
Ryan-Toye said she will have little involvement in the search process.
“As the current sitting superintendent, I step aside and the board conducts this process,” Ryan-Toye said. “I think they are very invested in community feedback and their own feedback.”
Barsotti said that searching for one’s own replacement is tricky.
“There’s nothing against Martha, but it’s a difficult position to be in,” he said. “She has a great legacy here but we don’t want to put her in an awkward position.”