New superintendent named in River Forest and no news is bad news on teachers contract

River Forest will replace its retiring superintendent with the current superintendent from Carbondale district 95, a K-8 district where two of four schools rank in the bottom 5% statewide.

On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the District 90 board introduced Janice Pavelonis as successor to Ed Condon, approving her unanimously. All board members spoke confidently about her credentials, experience, and personality. She will start July 1, 2026.

Pavelonis has several years of classroom experience and rose from curriculum director at Carbondale district 95 in 2018 to superintendent in 2021. The hire appears geared toward grit instead of prestige, which could be helpful as district 90 rebounds from years of academic, leadership, communications, and financial mismanagement.

A straight-line comparison of school quality measures paints a difficult picture. Note, proficiency scores use 2024 ISBE data before the newly inflated IL guidelines. 

Relying on ISBE data further, from 2019 to 2024 district 95 proficiency fell from 20.8% to 18.8% in English language arts and 13.4% to 10.1% in math.  Over the same period, district 90 proficiency rose from 69.2% to 76.4% in English language arts and 64.4% to 66.8% in math. It’s a tale of two distinct districts - where injustice is inevitable and redemption may be possible with time and sacrifice.

Like experienced teachers, it must have been difficult attracting talent to a district that elevated social programs over curriculum and instruction, hemorrhaged teachers, and became a national outlier for low learning rates. Spokeshuman and board president Katie Avalos told local media the district wanted “Someone who is going to be responsive, available to work alongside staff, teachers and parents. A problem solver, analytical and the ability to make tough decisions” and the board looked to Libertyville-based BWP & Associates for help. Is it grift, or is it a strange infatuation with the failings of Evanston schools?

BWP Associates is famous for helping Evanston district 65 fill their equity-focused superintendent role in 2020 with Devon Horton who, in October 2025, was federally indicted on allegations of defrauding the district through kickbacks and illegal contracts. More recently, Horton was arrested and charged with aggravated assault (strangulation) in Dekalb County Georgia.

Fear not though, those who still believe the purpose of public school is academics instead of identity, emotions, or politics can rest assured knowing Pavelonis told Chalkbeat in 2021 that routine standardized testing was important (instead of racist). Further, in the interview she plainly acknowledged proficiency in reading stalled and math was in decline. This is a welcome demonstration of honesty and transparency that, if it’s allowed to continue, could go a long way in district 90’s recovery from the Martire social experiment. 

Welcome Janice Pavelonis!

No news is bad news on D90 teachers contract

The district 90 school board and the River Forest Education Association (Union of local teachers) remain stuck in impasse after several months of negotiation.  Now, ‘final offers’ will produce a deal or a strike. Teacher compensation has been the lede.

District 90 communication indicated proceeding with the public posting process through the IL Education Labor Relation Board.  Generally, this involves the ILERB posting final offers of both parties for public viewing, which also starts the 14 day count-down to when teachers can engage in a strike if there is no resolution.  This is where final offers will be posted soon.  

It’s E3 where there are few dull moments, no dark money (sorry Tyler), and where equity still means fairness.

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