Hinsdale District 181 Official Leaving For Another Job

LA GRANGE, IL — La Grange Highlands School District 106 is getting a new superintendent as of July 1.

On Monday, the school board approved a three-year contract for John Munch, who is now the assistant superintendent for human resources for Hinsdale School District 181. Patch has left a message with the district about Munch's salary.

Munch replaces Amy Warke, who left in December after a year and a half. The reasons behind her departure are largely a mystery. She made $179,000 a year.

In his career, Munch has been a teacher, school social worker, middle school assistant principal and elementary school principal. He has been in his current position for the last seven years.

The district said its search, conducted with the help of BWP and Associates, drew more than 40 qualified candidates.

In a letter to the community, Munch said he would be on site on several occasions this spring to meet people and plan for the next year, even though he doesn't officially start for nearly three months.

Munch is set to receive his doctorate in educational leadership in December from National Louis University.

“We’ve learned a lot about teaching and learning and each other over the past 18 months,” Munch said in the news release. “We will be thoughtful as we incorporate those lessons into our plans when students return in August, focusing on both instruction and relationships.”

In the release, board President Andy Taylor said Munch quickly rose to the top of a competitive candidate pool.

“John clearly understood what has made Highlands a great school district, and he shared a vision for how we can get even better," Taylor said.

In the search, the district said it received the opinions of nearly 600 residents who completed a survey.

In late December, the school board approved a separation agreement with Warke. At that point, she had missed three board meetings in a row in November and December. These absences happened during a time of heightened scrutiny for school districts as they navigated the pandemic.

The agreement cited "philosophical differences" as the reason for Warke's departure.

After Warke left, Steve Griesbach, who retired as superintendent from Willowbrook-based Gower School District 62 in 2013, has been serving as La Grange Highlands' interim superintendent.

La Grange Highlands School District 106 has an enrollment of more than 900 students, with 4 percent considered low-income, according to the Illinois Report Card. The school has about 70 teachers.