Neale deal still burns among U-46 parents

Outgoing Superintendent Connie Neale hasn't made daily decisions at Elgin Area School District U-46 for months.

Her actions, however, are still very fresh in community members' minds, as Thursday's superintendent search forum at Larkin High School proved.

"We need a superintendent contract with no incentive to retire," said Elgin resident Clarence Hayward. "Having lifetime medical benefits is an incentive to retire, not work."

The Larkin forum was one of nine meetings organized by Milwaukee-based ProAct Search Inc., aimed at collecting the community's thoughts on the qualities needed in the individual that will ultimately replace Neale.

Neale, now living in Missouri, submitted her resignation in October. On indefinite medical leave, she will remain on the district's payroll until Feb. 25.

At the forum were copies of a "working draft" describing the strengths needed in a new leader. A successful candidate must have a demonstrated record of fiscal responsibility, a strong commitment to the values of public education, and have successfully met the challenges of leading a large, diverse organization, the profile stated.

"Anything you see here you'd like to tweak, you need to do so," said ProAct Consultant Claudyne Whitaker, who ran the Larkin meeting.

Other concerns raised included bringing more competitive academic programs to U-46, a better structuring of district leadership, and questions about the new superintendent's salary and compensation package.

Parents said they've gotten burned before and even wondered if there could be salary caps for a superintendent.

This year, Neale's compensation package, with salary and benefits, totals just over $535,000. Adding in Interim Superintendent Mary Jayne Broncato's per diem rate of $1,100, Neale's total cost to the district this year is about $750,000.

U-46 will also pay ProAct $27,000 for its services, plus up to $18,000 of search expenses, which include background checks on finalists, travel expenses, supplies, advertising and technology expenses.

Hoping to have a superintendent in place by next May, the search firm will now begin to advertise the position in newspapers, educational magazines and Web sites.

A candidate does not necessarily have to come from an education background, Whitaker said.

"You'd be surprised at how many superintendent candidates come from law and military backgrounds," she said.

Expecting 40 to 50 applications, ProAct plans to select its finalists by April.

A survey for community members about the qualities desired in a new superintendent is available on the district's Web site, www.u-46.org, until January 31.

"The district has made great strides in the past few years," South Elgin High School parent Joe Cluchey said. "But the new superintendent is going to have to come in and mend the community's trust."

Healing, Whitaker agreed, "is going to take a while."