Little revealed in District 15 separation agreement

A letter of reference released Wednesday by Palatine Township Elementary District 15 did little to shed light on the reasons behind former Superintendent Dan Lukich's abrupt departure over the summer.

The board of education letter, to be sent to anyone inquiring about Lukich's two-year tenure, is one of two sections in Lukich's separation agreement previously blacked out by the district.

The Illinois Attorney General's office, in response to a Daily Herald Freedom of Information Act request, ruled last week that nothing in the document constituted an unwarranted invasion of privacy and therefore the entire agreement must be released.

"In the second year, with a change of three (3) new Board Members, a different style of administrative management was envisioned by the Board," the previously redacted letter states. "The Board and Dr. Lukich negotiated a mutually amicable contract separation for the third and final year of the contract."

The second redacted section of the separation agreement demonstrates just how tight-lipped District 15 intends to remain about why it's paying Lukich $185,000 for leaving a year before his contract was set to expire.

Coming under the heading of Employment References, Personnel File Documents and Press Release, it states "the Board shall direct that all evaluative and negative documents regarding Lukich's employment with the District be sealed and segregated from the main contents of Lukich's personnel file with said documents available for opening by subpoena only."

Interim Superintendent Scott Thompson said District 15 won't comment other than to say it's complying with the Attorney General's order to release the entire separation agreement.

District 15 had withheld the two portions, claiming their release would be an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

Board members also have declined to say why Lukich was forced to resign, citing a section of the separation agreement that amounts to a gag order. However, school officials have said his departure wasn't due to any gross misconduct.

The rest of the board's letter of reference provides basic information about District 15 and its size, states Lukich's salary was $202,000, and outlines board-directed superintendent goals.

It also states Lukich received a $5,000 performance bonus following his first year after the board reviewed and assessed his progress toward those goals.