Glenbard Dist. 87 extends superintendent's contract

If Glenbard High School District 87 Superintendent Mike Meissen needed a vote of confidence, he received one Tuesday.

District officials announced a one-year contract extension for Meissen that will keep him on the job through at least June 30, 2012. The extension includes a 2 percent salary increase next year, which means Meissen will receive a base salary of $215,665 for the 2011-2012 school year. He will be paid a base salary of $211,436 this year.

A former Wisconsin High School Principal of the Year, Meissen began his tenure in District 87 on July 1, 2006, when he replaced two interim superintendents. Officials at the time said he was expected to have more of a presence in the community than his predecessors.

During his tenure, that increased communication has resulted in several successes for the district, including the reinstatement of a seventh class period - which required passing a referendum question - and the installation of an artificial turf field at one school with a second on the way.

The district also has adopted a more standard curriculum in an effort to close a minority achievement gap. However, the move has sparked something of a firestorm of opposition from some parents who feel the new curriculum holds back some of the students.

"We have tried to maintain some stability as we're trying to usher in those improvements that are centered on student achievement," he said. "We are focused on our standard of what our students should be learning and where they're assessed. We're trying to act in a way where we're a collective district of four high schools."

The news of the extension comes one day after the board was told it had achieved a budget surplus for the first time in more than six years.

Meissen said one reason for that was a conscious effort to plan for economic hardships.

"We have gone through some economic challenges that have been very much in our thinking and planning," he said. "We've tried to produce good results and we think we have. We're committed to see things through and looking for further progress."

In a news release, board President Rose Malcolm lauded Meissen's work since he took over.

"The board of education is very pleased with Dr. Meissen's leadership, particularly for his work creating pathways for success for every student and making good use of our resources under difficult financial conditions," she said.

Meissen's first contract was for three years at a salary of $190,000. In 2008, after applying for superintendent positions closer to his Wisconsin home, Meissen received a contract extension that kept him with the district through 2011 and paid him $206,279 plus a $30,000 annual annuity.