The District 153 school board is inviting the public to a meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, to share their ideas and thoughts on what attributes the next district superintendent should possess.

The board is working with School Exec Connect search firm. Superintendent Scott McAlister is in his last year as superintendent.

The consultants will conduct the meeting for the public at the James Hart School cafetorium.

The school board also will conduct interviews with focus groups representing the PTA, Parent Music Association and staff.

The school community can share input through an online survey that will be posted to the district website between Sept. 3 and 10. 

The board expects to have a new superintendent named by the end of December. McAlister has been serving as the top district administrator since 2021 when the board awarded him a five-year contract. 

He served as assistant superintendent for the 2020-2021 school year alongside Superintendent Dale Mitchell who was transitioning into retirement. That also was the year schools closed due to the COVID pandemic. Despite no students being present, McAlister remembered it as a very busy time trying to meet all the health and safety requirements as well as keeping the district’s academic programs going.

McAlister taught government and economics at Munster High School and then accepted a position as an economics teacher at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. He was promoted to assistant principal at H-F. He came to District 153 to serve as principal at James Hart School. He had that position for seven years before moving into the assistant superintendent’s job.