Galesburg District 205 Superintendent to Retire After Next School Year

John Asplund's 10-year tenure will end in June 2027 as he steps down after 25 years as a superintendent.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Galesburg District 205 Superintendent John Asplund announced that the 2026-27 school year will be his last, marking the end of his 10-year tenure leading the district. Asplund, who has served as superintendent since 2017, said he is confident in the district's future and that he is ready to devote more time to his family after 25 years as a superintendent.

Why it matters

Asplund's retirement will mark the end of a significant era for Galesburg District 205, as he has overseen the district through many challenges and milestones over the past decade. His departure will prompt a search for a new superintendent to lead the district into the future.

The details

Asplund announced his retirement at the conclusion of the District 205 Board of Education meeting on Monday night, reading a letter to the board. In the letter, he expressed confidence in the district's future and said he is ready to exit this part of his career after 25 years as a superintendent, 10 of which were with District 205. Asplund said he made a commitment to the district from the beginning to stay for the long haul, a promise he felt was important to honor.

  • Asplund has served as District 205 superintendent since 2017.
  • Asplund's retirement will take effect on June 30, 2027, at the end of the 2026-27 school year.
  • Asplund said the board has known of his plans since late summer or early fall of 2025.

The players

John Asplund

The current superintendent of Galesburg District 205, who has announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2026-27 school year after 10 years in the role.

Courtney Rodriguez

The president of the Galesburg District 205 Board of Education, who addressed Asplund's retirement announcement at the conclusion of the board meeting.

Galesburg District 205

The public school district in Galesburg, Illinois, that Asplund has led as superintendent since 2017.

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What they’re saying

“We have overcome many challenges and achieved many milestones in this time, and I am confident that the next Superintendent can be very successful in his or her career here.”

— John Asplund, Superintendent, Galesburg District 205 (wgil.com)

“We are already in the transition of what our next steps are going to be. We will do our due diligence. We look forward to hearing from you guys.”

— Courtney Rodriguez, Board of Education President, Galesburg District 205 (wgil.com)

What’s next

The Galesburg District 205 Board of Education will post the superintendent search timeline and job posting on the district website, and will also make a community survey available to provide transparency throughout the process of finding Asplund's successor.

The takeaway

Asplund's retirement after 10 years leading Galesburg District 205 marks the end of a significant era for the district, as he has overseen it through many challenges and milestones. The search for a new superintendent will be an important process as the district looks to build on Asplund's legacy and continue moving forward.