Dist. 220 superintendent's contract extended to 2014

Barrington Unit District 220 board members have extended the contract of Superintendent Tom Leonard through his announced retirement in June 2014.

Board President Brian Battle expressed his appreciation of Leonard's leadership through trying economic times, adding that he's proven an even better fit as superintendent than he was already believed to be when promoted from Barrington High School principal three years ago.

"We're absolutely thrilled that Tom has made a commitment to the district for another four years," Battle said.

But the head of a local tax watch group criticized the contract as excessive at a time when both teacher salaries and state funding issues are causing the district to trim personnel and student services.

The contract extension gives Leonard a 3.6 percent raise for the current school year, for which he will be paid $206,560. He will then receive 6 percent increases in each of the next four years, bringing him to an ending salary of $260,777.

Six percent increases are the highest permitted in figuring the value of pensions for retiring teachers and administrators in Illinois. Battle said such raises are available to all teachers and administrators in District 220 under current contracts.

While the board's assessment of Leonard's performance has been very positive, Battle said the fact of his announced retirement did play a role in the finalizing of the new contract.

Battle said the board most likely would have offered Leonard a multiyear contract regardless, but that the terms of all but the first year would have been left open-ended if Leonard's retirement weren't imminent.

In a comparison of more than 40 other districts in the area that are similar in their demographics and student achievement, Leonard's pay is currently around the middle of the bottom third of superintendent salaries, Battle said.

And the increases of the next four years won't significantly change that ranking, he added.

The board is sensitive to the issue of padding superintendents' pensions and there are no hidden deals in Leonard's, he added.

But Carol Schubert, president of the Barrington Enlightened Taxpayers Association, said Leonard's contract is an example of District 220's lack of fiscal responsibility.

She was critical of the three-year teachers contract approved last November, which promised raises consistent with Leonard's 3.6 percent raise for this year.

The worst part of these salary increases, Schubert said, is that they are occurring hand-in-hand with a $2.4 million cut to services affecting students - including layoffs of some nontenured teachers.

Schubert also disagreed with Battle's comparison of Leonard's pay to other superintendents as proof of the new contract's fairness.

"Why don't they do anything based on a person's ability rather than what's going around?" Schubert asked. "I'm not saying (Leonard) doesn't work hard, but he's not entitled. This is about entitlement."

Teachers union President Melanie Collins had no comment Wednesday, but said that the contract might be a point of discussion at the union's next officers meeting at the end of the month.

Leonard, 53, joined District 220 as principal of Barrington High School in 2001.