District 158 troubled by top talent's short tenure in jobs

In recent years, being a top-level official in Huntley Unit District 158 has been a short-term gig.

Since 2005, the district has had three superintendents, four finance chiefs and three heads of operations.

Just in the past year, two finance heads have left the district, one chief operations officer has resigned and one school board member has stepped down.

The first major blow came in December, when then-Comptroller Stacie Talbert announced her resignation. The second came just last week, when Glen Stewart resigned as operations chief.

District 158 officials said this week they are troubled by the turnover among the district's top brass.

"It's not so much a concern that they're leaving but that we're not able to find good, quality people to replace them," board member Mike Skala said.

Of greatest concern, officials said, is the vacancy at the top finance post. The district now has a part-time, interim finance chief but has yet to find a qualified permanent candidate.

"There's an especially acute shortage of chief financial officers," Superintendent John Burkey said. "That's one of the reasons I'm particularly worried about that position."

The district is in the middle of budget discussions and teacher contract negotiations without a full-time finance chief to guide decisions.

Burkey and board members said the operations side of the district is in better shape now because interim chief Dave Jenkins is very familiar with the district and oversees "highly competent" department heads.

Jenkins has worked for the district since 2000 and served most recently as technology director.

"If you look at the situation overall, under operations, you have a lot of long-tenured folks, a lot of experience," board member Kevin Gentry said.

Board members said the at-times strained relationship between board members and administrators -- as well as frequent media coverage of the disputes -- may be scaring away some qualified candidates.

"We do a fair amount of our own governance, and that's what we believe our duty and responsibility is," board Vice President Tony Quagliano said. "That might not play well with a lot of people."

District officials stopped short of naming board members who they felt created a hostile environment for administrators, and Quagliano said Stewart's resignation was not related to his relationship with board members.

Officials expressed measured optimism that the climate in the district has improved, citing fewer conflicts between board members and administrators at public meetings.

"I think the board has been much more civil than it ever has been," said Skala, who has served on the board for most of the past decade. "I think that has started to make the situation much more pleasant for the people that have to work here."

But district officials said more needs to be done to recruit -- and more importantly, retain -- top-level administrators.

"The issues of respect and competitive compensation are an issue," Burkey said, adding, "I'm really hoping we have more stability in the next few years."