 | |  | |  | |  |
Root named Superintendent
By Erin Bidleman
The Auburn School Board voted (6-0, Scott Norris recused) to employ current Auburn High School Principal Darren Root as
Superintendent of Schools at the regular school board meeting Monday. Root replaces current Superintendent Kathy Garrett and
will begin his tenure July 1, 2012.
Root, a native of Hampshire, Illinois, has served as the high school principal for the past seven years. He holds degrees
from SIU-C, a teaching certificate from UIS along with his Superintendent certification with a specialty in finances, also from UIS.
Prior to becoming principal at Auburn, he taught and coached at Auburn for two years (1992-94), then spent eight years teaching
and coaching at Pawnee before spending two years as grades 7-12 principal at Raymond-Lincolnwood.
Root and his wife Tina, a teacher in the Ball-Chatham district, reside in Auburn with their daughter Morgan, a fifth grader, and
son Carson a sophomore.
Root was given a three year contract with a base salary of $111,000.
Root said some of his goals will be to increase test scores and to work closely with staff in implementing the new teacher
evaluation tool. He also wants to increase communication with the public and looks forward to working with the school board. “Its
a great opportunity,” Root said.
Root added that his brother is the Superintendent in Williamsville and “he will be a great resource.”
In other business, the Truth in Taxation hearing was opened for public comment but with no comments, the meeting was
closed. Later in the meeting, the tax levy was adopted.
Garrett said during the financial report that the state still owes the district $300,000 as of last week. However, she said one
payment just came in and the financial situation is “not quite as bad as it has been.”
Assistant Principal Nathan Essex presented the results of two food service surveys completed by approximately 300 high
school students on November 22 and December 19.
The main complaint from students was not having all entrés available for all three lunch periods. The November survey
asked students if they were denied a selection because the cafeteria ran out of an item.
Sixty-nine percent of responders from the third lunch period said, “yes.” However, the survey on December 19 showed
marked improvement with only 30 percent saying they had been denied an item they wanted. Essex credited the new Food
Service Director Stacy Malone and High School Cafeteria Manager Julie Jarrard with turning the situation around.
Board Member Mike Heren attended an informational meeting with the executive board of the Capital Area Career Center
recently and was asked to return with suggestions from the Auburn School Board about whether the district wants to be part of
the executive board.
The CACC board represents 14 districts and Auburn is fourth in the amount of money spent, yet does not have a seat on the
executive board. Garrett said the district should be part of the executive board.
Heren said there are five meetings in the upcoming year and he would set up a calendar to assign a board member to
attend.
Root recognized basketball coach Doug Graven for his 500th career win in a game Friday against Mt. Pulaski. “He is in an
elite group of coaches that get that many wins in a career,” Root said.
High school choir member Sean Brooks was also recognized. Brooks was inducted into the prestigious all-state Honors
Choir. “I don’t think anyone from Auburn has ever reached that level,” Root said. Brooks was presented with a Certificate of
Recognition from the board.
In employment action, the board voted to approve wrestling volunteer coach Josh Smith, accepted the resignation of
custodian Florina Mendoza and junior varsity volleyball coach Jackie Powell, set the salary ranges for classroom aides for the
2012-13 school year and to begin the employment process.
By Erin Bidleman
The Auburn School Board voted (6-0, Scott Norris recused) to employ current Auburn High School Principal Darren Root as
Superintendent of Schools at the regular school board meeting Monday. Root replaces current Superintendent Kathy Garrett and
will begin his tenure July 1, 2012.
Root, a native of Hampshire, Illinois, has served as the high school principal for the past seven years. He holds degrees
from SIU-C, a teaching certificate from UIS along with his Superintendent certification with a specialty in finances, also from UIS.
Prior to becoming principal at Auburn, he taught and coached at Auburn for two years (1992-94), then spent eight years teaching
and coaching at Pawnee before spending two years as grades 7-12 principal at Raymond-Lincolnwood.
Root and his wife Tina, a teacher in the Ball-Chatham district, reside in Auburn with their daughter Morgan, a fifth grader, and
son Carson a sophomore.
Root was given a three year contract with a base salary of $111,000.
Root said some of his goals will be to increase test scores and to work closely with staff in implementing the new teacher
evaluation tool. He also wants to increase communication with the public and looks forward to working with the school board. “Its
a great opportunity,” Root said.
Root added that his brother is the Superintendent in Williamsville and “he will be a great resource.”
In other business, the Truth in Taxation hearing was opened for public comment but with no comments, the meeting was
closed. Later in the meeting, the tax levy was adopted.
Garrett said during the financial report that the state still owes the district $300,000 as of last week. However, she said one
payment just came in and the financial situation is “not quite as bad as it has been.”
Assistant Principal Nathan Essex presented the results of two food service surveys completed by approximately 300 high
school students on November 22 and December 19.
The main complaint from students was not having all entrés available for all three lunch periods. The November survey
asked students if they were denied a selection because the cafeteria ran out of an item.
Sixty-nine percent of responders from the third lunch period said, “yes.” However, the survey on December 19 showed
marked improvement with only 30 percent saying they had been denied an item they wanted. Essex credited the new Food
Service Director Stacy Malone and High School Cafeteria Manager Julie Jarrard with turning the situation around.
Board Member Mike Heren attended an informational meeting with the executive board of the Capital Area Career Center
recently and was asked to return with suggestions from the Auburn School Board about whether the district wants to be part of
the executive board.
The CACC board represents 14 districts and Auburn is fourth in the amount of money spent, yet does not have a seat on the
executive board. Garrett said the district should be part of the executive board.
Heren said there are five meetings in the upcoming year and he would set up a calendar to assign a board member to
attend.
Root recognized basketball coach Doug Graven for his 500th career win in a game Friday against Mt. Pulaski. “He is in an
elite group of coaches that get that many wins in a career,” Root said.
High school choir member Sean Brooks was also recognized. Brooks was inducted into the prestigious all-state Honors
Choir. “I don’t think anyone from Auburn has ever reached that level,” Root said. Brooks was presented with a Certificate of
Recognition from the board.
In employment action, the board voted to approve wrestling volunteer coach Josh Smith, accepted the resignation of
custodian Florina Mendoza and junior varsity volleyball coach Jackie Powell, set the salary ranges for classroom aides for the
2012-13 school year and to begin the employment process.
Issue Date: Dec. 22, 2011
