U-46 board approves new CEO contract
The Elgin Area School District U-46 school board Monday approved a multiyear contract for Chief Executive Officer Tony Sanders.
Sanders has served in that role two years and previously was chief of staff to former Superintendent José Torres.
The board voted 5-2 to approve the contract, which runs through June 30, 2020. It includes a base salary $221,708 for this school year and a 2.75 percent pay increase July 1 with future raises tied to performance.
The decision comes following a new state law that paved the way for Sanders, who has an MBA and more than 20 years' public service experience, to continue running the school district.
"The board's vote in favor of Tony's contract follows many hours of discussion about our CEO's leadership and the important work ahead," board President Donna Smith said.
Earlier in June, the school board extended the contract for interim Superintendent Kenneth Arndt through June 30, 2017. Arndt, former superintendent of Community Unit District 300, has been serving U-46 in that capacity since Torres resigned in August 2014 to head the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora. He and Sanders have jointly run the district ever since.
Sanders' new performance goals are aligned with the district's strategic plan. Among the goals is overseeing implementation of full-day kindergarten and developing a method to evaluate the program by March.
Sanders also is tasked with providing a recommendation for the adoption of an elementary science curriculum in first through sixth grades by July 1, 2018, so it can be implemented the following school year. That program then would be evaluated by the 2019-20 school year. He also must oversee completion of audits on the district's special education, gifted, and career technical education programs by July 1 and recommend any program changes.
Other performance goals include establishing a system to develop future principals and leaders by Feb. 1 and presenting a new salary schedule and structure for administrative staff by Jan. 1 to be implemented over four years.
Sanders must ensure all elementary schools have a plan by March 1 to increase family and community engagement, and recommend a system to monitor the experiences of parents, community members and employees by Sept. 1 to implement by July 1, 2019.
Among Sanders' priorities is ensuring operating funds are balanced and the district maintains a 20 percent reserve. He must also create a five-year plan to guide investments in capital, curriculum and technology by July 1.