Sherrard CUSD extends superintendent’s contract for 5 more years

Sherrard is keeping its school superintendent for another five years, according to a news release from the Sherrard Community Unit School District (CUSD).The Sherrard School Board voted to extend Superintendent Dr. Carl Johnson’s contract for five more years, from 2024 to 2029. The extension is due to Johnson’s accomplishments during his two-year tenure, including improving financial management, staff development and student engagement.

“His leadership is a great asset to our organization, and we see limitless potential in his continued leadership,” said school board president Rhys Fullerlove.”The board extended Dr. Johnson’s contract because we are extremely satisfied with his performance. His leadership has guided the district through continuous growth, and we believe extending his contract is crucial for our ongoing success.”

Johnson was hired as Superintendent in November 2021 after an extensive search and vetting process by the school board under the direction of the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB). In his first two years, he successfully managed a multi-million dollar project, kept it on budget from the start and negotiated one of the district’s best teacher and staff union contracts.

“Dr. Johnson has demonstrated exceptional leadership, making bold decisions and taking full responsibility for them,” Fullerlove said. “The board has been consistently impressed with his compassionate approach, combined with his ability to hold individuals accountable.”

“Dr. Johnson’s contract was extended without major changes, maintaining the existing terms,” he continued. “However, we introduced a performance-based pay raise tied to the achievement of the district’s strategic planning goals. Additionally, any salary increase Dr. Johnson receives will not exceed the average salary increase of our teachers for the year, ensuring fairness and alignment with district-wide standards.”

Johnson is committed to enhancing the district’s stability and prosperity. He expects to focus on developing an environment where governance supports excellence for students, staff and the community by building on the district’s solid foundation.

“The Sherrard district is a phenomenal place to be. It has everything a family could want and has more to offer than most districts our size,” said Johnson. “This is the district my family has called home for over 100 years, and it is a wonderful set of communities to serve. The school board is a model of how effective and productive volunteer service can actually be. The students, staff, parents and community members here are second to none.”

Under Dr. Johnson’s leadership and working with the school board, staff and administration, the district has achieved these objectives:

• Collaborative Staff and Faculty: Creating a cohesive team of dedicated professionals.
• Efficient Negotiations: Concluding a collective bargaining agreement in record time.
• Financial Optimization: Maximizing investment opportunities to strengthen cash reserves.
• Lowering Taxes: Reducing the district’s property tax rate to ensure fiscal health.
• Teacher Vacancy Grant: Securing a $94,000 annual grant to address teacher shortages.
• Improving Administration: Enhancing the administrative team’s effectiveness.
• Modernizing Fleet Vehicles: Updating the district’s vehicles for safety and efficiency.
• Student-Led Conferences: Introducing student-led conferences to improve engagement.
• Tier 3 Intervention Room: Establishing a new intervention room at SHS for targeted support.

Johnson has 28 years of education experience and previously served as the superintendent of Colona School District 190. He was a high school teacher for nine years, then served five years as assistant principal and principal of a middle school. He followed that by working as a high school principal for seven years before becoming Sherrard’s superintendent. He graduated from Sherrard High School in 1990.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.