Students at York Community High School, Sandburg Middle School, and Emerson Elementary will return in August to new building leaders whose marching orders are being shaped right now. The Elmhurst District 205 Board of Education devoted its Tuesday, July 14, retreat entirely to a districtwide equity presentation from Superintendent Dr. Keisha Campbell and the deputy superintendent.
The special meeting began at 9:45 a.m. with a single substantive agenda item: "Reports from the Superintendent & Deputy Superintendent: Districtwide Equity," according to the official BoardBook agenda published Monday, July 13. No other action items appeared on the docket.
What Campbell and the deputy superintendent actually presented is not yet public. Official minutes have not been posted; the district's specific data, goals, or board directions from the session will be confirmed once those minutes are released.
New leaders, new priorities
The retreat's equity focus arrives as three D205 schools open the year under fresh leadership.
At York, co-interim principals Dr. Linda Yonke and Stephan Bild started Wednesday, July 1. Yonke led York from 1998 to 2004 and later served as superintendent of New Trier Township High School District 203. In the district's May 6 announcement of her appointment, Yonke said: "York holds a special place in my heart, and I deeply value and cherish the entire Elmhurst community." A comprehensive search for a permanent York principal will begin this fall.
Sandburg Middle School opened the summer under interim principal Michael Boraz, per a district announcement on July 14. At Emerson Elementary, Jill Zapata, a former director of bilingual services with a background in equity and bilingual education, took over as principal July 1.
Planning already underway
In June, every D205 school established a School Improvement Planning team for the first time, bringing together administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers to set goals for 2026-27, according to the district's June board meeting highlights. The board approved the FY 2027 Consolidated District Plan on June 23, outlining how the district will use federal IDEA and ESSA grant funds.
How to weigh in
The retreat agenda included a public comment period with a two-minute limit per speaker, a 20-minute cap per agenda item, and a 30-minute overall maximum. The first day of student attendance is Thursday, August 13. Parents and residents can check the D205 BoardBook calendar for the next regular meeting date.
