Colleagues: DUI out of character for Schaumburg-area school official

Longtime colleagues and board members in Schaumburg Township Elementary School District 54 expressed shock at the news that Assistant Superintendent Peggy Kaufmann has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

Kaufmann is slated to take over as the new superintendent in Mount Prospect Elementary District 57 on July 1.

But a cloud of uncertainty now hangs over that appointment, as the Dist. 57 school board members plan to discuss the matter during its meeting Tuesday, May 12.

Complicating the issue is the fact that four of the seven Dist. 57 school board members are new. The board also lost a member with last week's resignation of Rich Benson.

"It would be difficult for any board, but obviously for a brand new board, it's a little bit extra of a challenge," said board President Joseph Leane.

Kaufmann's attorney confirmed Sunday that she was arrested in Bartlett in early April, but declined to comment further. Kaufmann was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, a Class A misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail. Bartlett Police refused to provide any information until today.

Kaufmann, who is still employed by Dist. 54, has a distinguished career as both an administrator and as a former principal at Anne Fox Elementary School in Hanover Park.

Kaufmann received a master's degree from Northeastern Illinois University in reading education and a doctorate from Loyola University in Chicago. In 2004, Dist. 54 promoted her from principal to assistant superintendent of instruction, according to records.

Kaufmann herself was unavailable to comment Sunday, but had no lack of witnesses testifying to her character and her ample qualifications for the superintendent's position.

District 54 board Member Barbara Hengels spoke of her wonderful track record in the district.

"She has made a difference in the education of kids in District 54, to their benefit and to our benefit," Hengels said.

She added that Kaufmann saw to it that, with the change in curriculum, teachers received the professional development they needed.

Hengels's opinion was seconded by Mohsin Dada, another assistant superintendent in District 54, who described her as "an outstanding person."

Hengels said as a board member she had no knowledge of Kaufmann's DUI charge at the time it occurred, adding, "It happened off the clock, and everybody is entitled to a personal life ... (and) being charged with something and being guilty of it are two entirely different things."

Leane said Kaufmann's qualifications made her the unanimous choice of the board after a long search to replace Superintendent Bruce Brown.

"The thing we should not lose sight of is that she came to us after a very thorough search and came very highly regarded and very highly recommended," Brown said.

Kaufmann discussed the charges with the District 57 school board during a closed-session meeting last week and said told them she expects to be found not guilty of the charge. On Friday, the school district informed parents of the news through automated calls from Benson.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=292507">Mount Prospect District 57's new superintendent charged with DUI <span class="date">[5/9/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>