Families at Neuqua Valley, Metea Valley, and their feeder schools have new leadership steering the district as of Monday, July 13.
Dr. John Price leads his first Indian Prairie District 204 board meeting as superintendent, and Andrew Bernard takes his oath as the board's newest member. They step into leadership as the district navigates a projected $4.9 million deficit for 2026-27, a net reduction of 20 staff positions already underway, and curriculum changes approved in June for Scullen Middle School and Still Middle School.
Who is Dr. John Price?
Price officially took over on Tuesday, July 1, replacing outgoing Superintendent Dr. Adrian Talley. He spent nine years leading North Chicago School District 187, where he maintained annual budget surpluses and secured a $40 million gift from AbbVie that funded a new middle school. Before that, he served as a regional superintendent for Chicago Public Schools and assistant superintendent in Evanston.
Board President Laurie Donahue praised Price's fiscal track record and called him a collaborative leader committed to student achievement.
Who is Andrew Bernard?
Bernard, 38, lives in the Brookdale neighborhood with his wife and two children. His oldest starts kindergarten in District 204 this fall.
"I have young kids coming into the school system," Bernard told the Chicago Tribune in June. "I'm personally invested."
He teaches business courses at St. Charles North High School and previously served as chief school business official for the A.E.R.O. Special Education Cooperative in Burbank, where he oversaw a $54 million budget. That background in special education finance is relevant: rising out-of-district placement costs and special education transportation are among the drivers of the district's current deficit.
Bernard fills the seat vacated by Justin Karubas, who resigned effective May 24 after 13 years on the board. Bernard has said he intends to run for the seat in the April 2027 election.
The $4.9 million question
Chief School Business Official Matt Shipley told the board on May 18 that the district expects a one-time $4.9 million deficit in fiscal year 2027. The shortfall stems from a loss of more than $1 million in Title I federal funding, rising substitute teacher costs, and increasing special education transportation expenses. The district is eliminating 25 federally funded positions, with some absorbed by other funding sources, resulting in a net loss of 20 jobs.
A public hearing and budget adoption vote are scheduled for August. The district has not posted the July 13 agenda; families can check ipsd.org for updates.
Project Arrow changes already approved
The board approved $115,000 in new English Language Arts curriculum materials for Project Arrow, the district's gifted program, at its June 8 meeting. Sixth-graders at Scullen and Still will read Lois Lowry's "The Giver" this fall. Seventh-graders add "Twelve Angry Men" by Reginald Rose. The existing texts were out of print and contained what the district called "dated language."
Families at Peterson Elementary, Cowlishaw Elementary, and McCarty Elementary should note that their students feed into these middle school programs.
School week ahead
- Monday, July 13 — District 204 Regular Board Meeting. First meeting under Superintendent Dr. John Price; Andrew Bernard sworn in. Check ipsd.org for time and agenda.
- August 2026 — District 204 public hearing and board vote on the 2026-27 budget. Date and time not yet posted.
