There must be something in the water that causes North Chicago School District 187 superintendents to bolt for the door after a stint at the school's helm. The Hound has tasted North Chicago water and hasn't found it lacking in the usual liquid ways. So it must be something else.
What that else is apparently bringing somebody from the outside in. The last few superintendents have been recruited from outside the district after the usual "nationwide search". Such is how Sandra Ellis, a downstater, ended up leading the district.
Ellis was the 13th superintendent the district has had in the past 15 years which must rank as some sort of record if not in the "Guinness Book of World Records" at least in Lake County. The Hound wonders if Ellis received a nice "golden parachute" as other departing educators have received.
Her immediate replacement is a Guy Named Lauri, Hakanen, that is, who has toiled in the district for two decades, including as athletic director and deputy superintendent. The school board named him interim superintendent.
Let's see if another nationwide search is undertaken or the school board decides to hire from within. Maybe if they hire somebody who has sipped city water, they might stay awhile.
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