A Chicago-based search firm will help the Evanston Township High School board find a new superintendent to replace Eric Witherspoon.
Witherspoon is retiring at the end of the current school year, after 16 years at the helm of ETHS.
On Wednesday night, the District 202 Board of Education unanimously picked Alma Advisory Group to help find a new leader for the 3,700 student school.
Alma was one of three search firms interviewed by the Board. Their anticipated price tag to conduct the search is $25,000.
Several other major school districts have used Alma for superintendent searches, including Cincinnati and Denver.
In a statement Thursday afternoon, the Board said there will be community involvement in the search.
“We are looking forward to thoughtful feedback from all stakeholder groups involved in this process,” said Board President Pat Savage-Williams.
The Board hopes to name the next superintendent in late February or early March. Witherspoon will help with the transition until his retirement date at the end of the school year.
Witherspoon’s salary is more than $270,000 per year.