Dist. 128 approves superintendent's contract

Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 administrator Prentiss Lea's salary will jump about 19 percent when he takes over as superintendent in one year, officials decided Monday.

Lea, now the district's associate superintendent, will earn $185,000 and receive health insurance and other benefits once he becomes superintendent next July, according to the contract approved during the school board's monthly meeting at Vernon Hills High School. He'll earn more than $155,000 a year this year, officials reported.

The board accepted the contract without opposition and also without disclosing its terms at the meeting, which was sparsely attended.

Lea will earn less than his predecessor, David Clough, who's in his final year at the Vernon Hills-based district. Clough will earn $273,618 this year, a sum that includes a pre-retirement bonus, District 128 spokeswoman Mary Todoric said.

Clough's salary last year -- before he received the retirement bonus -- was $228,015, a change of more than $45,000, or about 20 percent, officials said.

Libertyville political activist Jack L. Martin called Clough's salary bump an example of the district "exploiting the taxpayers."

"If we had a (private) company with a board that approved that kind of an increase, the stockholders would be up in arms," said Martin, who leads a watchdog group called Taxpayers for Good Government.

Clough, of Lake Bluff, has led the district for nine years. Lea, of West Chicago, was tapped in May to replace Clough.

Lea came to District 128 two years ago from Glenbard North High School in Glendale Heights, where he was principal.