No regional superintendent on the horizon for McHenry County

Between the lack of pay and the long list of requirements, the search for a new regional superintendent of schools in McHenry County is going nowhere, officials said this week.

“Until we see what the legislature is going to do, my stance is that we are going to continue to work with the folks in Lake County,” McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler said, noting the Lake County regional office has been filling in for McHenry.

The McHenry County post has been vacant since June when Gene Goeglein retired early and Jon Williams, who was elected in November to replace Goeglein, retired before taking over in July.

In July, Gov. Pat Quinn cut salaries for regional superintendents and their assistants, arguing the state couldn’t afford the $11 million expense. The General Assembly, however, could override Quinn’s veto next month.

McHenry County officials have examined about 10 resumes. “We had qualified candidates apply but for many different reasons — the biggest one being the lack of funding — we couldn’t move forward with any of them,” he said. The position pays “around $100,000,” he said.

Candidates must be Republicans, because the last person elected to the post was a Republican. At least two candidates said they were Independent but had in the past voted in a Democratic primary election. “This is a very small field of people that are qualified,” Koehler said.

Meanwhile, two consultants employed by the Lake County Regional Office of Education will perform health and safety inspections for all 85 buildings in McHenry’s 19 school districts, Lake County Regional Superintendent Roycealee Wood said. Lake County has 220 buildings in 45 school districts, she added.“We hope to have everything done, Lake and McHenry, by winter break,” she said.

Going without pay since July 1 has taken a toll, Wood said. “It’s a challenge. Some of us have more personal resources than others to fall back on. I’m sure some of our people have taken out loans.”

DuPage County recently decided to pay its regional superintendent, who will then repay the county when the state’s payments are restored. Koehler said he’s not in favor of doing that in McHenry County.

“We’ll wait to see what the state does,” he said.