MCC president: I'm not leaving over possible job in Florida

Larry Tyree, outgoing interim president at McHenry County College, has said personal and family matters are the reasons why on Monday after only a month on the job he notified the school that he is stepping down to return to his home state of Florida.

He also says his departure has nothing to do with a potential opportunity for him to become interim president at Northwest Florida State College, an institution of nearly 16,000 students.

Tyree, 65, who has been president of both Gulf Coast Community College and Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, is a candidate for the position at the Niceville-based college, school officials confirmed.

It is one of the Florida system's 28 public community colleges.

"Obviously, I've had a conversation with the institution but that has nothing to do with the decision that was announced last evening," Tyree said today, adding that he did not apply for the Florida job and that no interview has been scheduled. "My decision was made irrespective of any other possibilities anywhere."

Jill White, the Florida school's current interim president, says the school is in the beginning stages of its search and that the board hasn't decided whether to keep it in house or to expand it across the nation. The school has informally contacted four or five candidates for the post and Tyree's name immediately came up because of his 30-year-career at the other two Florida schools, said White, who retires in February.

"Dr. Tyree was a president at the institution that is 60 miles from here and his name is familiar in this part of the country," White said.

Tyree declined to elaborate on the issues he says are forcing him and his wife, Donna, to return to Florida, except to say, "It was not anticipated and it was not expected, but it's very real."

Board President George Lowe said he's also in the dark about why Tyree has to leave.

"All I know is he had to go home last weekend and whatever problem they had, I hope it isn't anything serious, but it needs his attention," Lowe said.

Tyree will receive no compensation beyond his departure and only gets paid for his time at the school, Lowe said.

Tyree was due to make $188,564 a year, which works out to nearly $15,700 a month.

Tyree, who has several family members in Florida, came to MCC on Aug. 17, months after the board pushed out former President Walt Packard, now the school's president emeritus.

Since then, two other people besides Tyree have led the college on an interim basis.

Lowe hopes Tyree's departure marks the end of the revolving door.

"I hope this stops it," Lowe said, adding that the constant turnover doesn't bode well for the school's image.

Tyree's last day at MCC is Oct. 16.

Kathleen Plinske, the school's vice president for institutional effectiveness, takes over the following day and at 29, becomes the Crystal Lake college's youngest president ever.

Plinske's term ends June 30, 2010.

The school is in the midst of negotiating a new contract with Plinske while it looks for a permanent president, Lowe said.

"I think she is extremely bright and very grounded in her work and has a work ethic that won't quit, and I think she will do an excellent job," Lowe said, adding that Plinske will not make as much as Tyree did.

Although Tyree will have spent a bit more than two months at the school by the time he leaves, Lowe said he brought some stability as well as a positive attitude.

"He's always bubbling over, I like him, he's a very nice gentleman," Lowe said.

For his part, Tyree said he was happy at MCC.

"How could one not be happy where there is such a community of helping students to be successful?" he said.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=323157">MCC interim president steps down for 'personal, family matters' <span class="date">[09/22/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>