District 99 Begins Search for Next Principal of Downers Grove South

By Amanda Luevano

Community High School District 99 has begun the search process to replace Downers Grove South Principal Steve Bild, who will retire at the end of the 2013-14 school. 

School officials met with South High parents at a parent advisory board meeting Sept. 17 to review the timeline and process for hiring a new principal, according to the District 99 website.

The position will officially be posted the week of Oct. 7, with staff and administrator meetings to follow. The district will accept applications through Nov. 1.

District officials will then begin paper screening Nov. 4, and will begin preliminary interviews Nov. 14. Finalists will be interviewed Dec. 5 and will meet with the superintendent over winter break.

The administration is expected to make a recommendation to the board in January.

Bild, a long-time resident of Woodridge, has worked in education for more than 30 years and has been the principal at South High since 2008. 

Under his leadership, South High has made notable strides in student achievement and in preparing for the Common Core State Standards. The school is ranked as one of the best public high schools in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report and Newsweek magazines. 

Bild has also been recognized for his many community contributions, and for his work in closing the achievement gap among minority students. In 2012, he was honored by the village of Woodridge with a Community Recognition Award for being "an exemplary principal and leader who has done groundbreaking work in terms of reaching out to under-performing students."

As the principal search begins, District 99 is seeking input from students, parents, staff members and all others in the South High community. An online survey will be availble through Nov. 4 at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DGSPrincipalSearch.