Outgoing District 204 superintendent signs three-year deal in Indiana

Departing Indian Prairie Unit District 204 Superintendent Stephen Daeschner has signed a three-year contract that includes an annual salary of $225,000 with the Greater Clark County Schools system in southern Indiana.

Daeschner's pact also will pay him $1,500 a month for up to 24 months to allow him time to sell his home in District 204.

Daeschner, who came to District 204 in 2007, is stepping down with a full year remaining on the three-year contract he signed when he arrived in Indian Prairie. He assumes his new duties on July 1.

The contract also states donations will be sought to help pay his salary. Missy DeArk, Greater Clark board secretary, said the board has $150,000 budgeted for the position. However, the contract states that if funds aren't raised, the school corporation will have to pay whatever is left of the $225,000.

His contract was approved at a school board meeting Wednesday morning and signed later by Daeschner.

Larry Wilder, attorney for the Greater Clark school board, said that though details are still being worked out, people should be able to donate to the school corporation directly and anonymously if they want, or to a given foundation that would forward that money on to Greater Clark with their name available publicly, which would allow the donor to use it as a tax write off.

Becka Christensen, board member, supported the move, saying schools receive donations all the time and this is no different.

"It is no different than a football booster group or than a golf scramble; they are all private dollars helping schools," she said.

Christina Gilkey, board member, said she is against the way Daeschner will be paid.

"It's about how much Greater Clark schools is on the line for," she said. "We're already operating on a deficit budget. If funding doesn't come through, something will have to be cut."

Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan said at a press conference with Daeschner that he's tired of people talking just about the cost of the contract.

"You've got to pay for what you get," Galligan said. "This is a $100 million school corporation and we're sitting here quibbling over ($225,000) ... Now, we can pay somebody $125,000 and think we got a steal. and if they don't do anything for education it's a failure. It's a waste of $125,000."

Daeschner said he looks forward to helping Greater Clark deal with the challenges of having Title 1 schools and schools not making Adequate Yearly Progress as part of the No Child Left Behind mandates.

"I came into this to help kids," he said.

Daeschner, who had served as superintendent in Louisville, Ky., for 14 years before coming to Indian Prairie, said he also was eager to return to the area to be with friends and to avoid the Chicago area's cold and windy weather.

"I view this area as my second home," Daeschner said.

He said he had every intention of fulfilling his three-year contract in Indian Prairie when he signed it, but "I had an opportunity to return to an area I enjoy."

Daeschner will replace Travis Haire, who is serving as interim superintendent. Haire formerly worked as director of student services.

Daeschner did not return messages left by the Daily Herald at his office on Wednesday or Thursday.