District 46 board president wants full details from new finance boss

Edward Towle says he's committed to working as Grayslake Elementary District 46's finance chief and understands why he'd be scrutinized for being on a 15-month paid leave as a Wisconsin school system's business manager.

Towle issued a statement Saturday to the Daily Herald on his controversial hiring at District 46.

"I absolutely look forward to fulfilling the terms of my contract with District 46. I am honored to know that out of 40 candidates, I was the district's first choice," Towle said in the statement, issued by his attorney, Robert Shumaker.

District 46 hired Towle to start July 1 as chief school business official. The contract calls for a $98,000 salary, 25 vacation days and a chance to advance to assistant superintendent for business and finance.

But after he was hired on April 7, District 46 officials learned that he has been on paid leave at Brown Deer School District near Milwaukee. Superintendent Ellen Correll said neither Towle nor Brown Deer District Administrator Deb Kerr mentioned the leave or the reason for it.

Last week, Kerr said "serious concerns" about Towle's job performance led to him being placed on paid leave in February 2009 while collecting his full $107,449 salary. Kerr, whose predecessor hired Towle in January 2007, has refused to elaborate.

But Towle's attorney said Kerr never spoke with his client about his job performance. Instead, Shumaker said, Kerr simply moved to put Towle on a paid leave that's now in its 15th month.

"I know that Dr. Kerr's concerns had nothing to do with honesty or ethics," Shumaker said. "Edward's most recent evaluation from Dr. Kerr rated him 'exemplary' for 'honesty, integrity and fairness' and for (demonstrating) 'integrity in word and deed.' "

Shumaker contends Towle's repeated requests to work have been ignored by Brown Deer officials, who refuse to speak publicly about the subject.

Towle said he hopes District 46 taxpayers don't judge him on unfounded speculation.

"Given all of the publicity that has occurred," Towle said, "I will certainly be 'under the microscope,' but I don't mind being held accountable to the public. As a business manager, my job is to be a good steward of the taxpayers' money."

Towle, 53, is expected to meet with the District 46 school board on May 10. Board President Mary Garcia said Saturday she looks forward to receiving details surrounding Towle's status at Brown Deer.

"He was not upfront on the fact he was on leave," Garcia said. "It will be eye-opening to find out what happened."

Shumaker said Towle was "absolutely honest" when he applied for the Grayslake job. Towle had a legal obligation to himself to minimize harm caused to him by Brown Deer, which is why he didn't announce his leave, the attorney added.

"Edward did exactly what he should have done," Shumaker said. "He applied for jobs based on his experience and qualifications, he asked for letters of recommendation from past employers and he encouraged people to talk to them."

District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll has said officials did not specifically ask if Towle was on paid leave during the interview process. The district's lawyer, Kevin Gordon, last week cautioned officials to be open-minded about Towle.

Shumaker says if Towle had done something that warranted firing, then Brown Deer school board members would have done so, but they didn't take action. Towle's contract there spelled out he could be fired for just cause. His resignation was accepted April 12.

"If Edward had done something seriously wrong, don't you think the (Brown Deer) board of education would have promptly held a termination hearing and immediately terminated his employment?" Shumaker said.

Garcia said Towle's 17 years of school finance expertise and grant-writing success put him at the top of the list of candidates.

Towle would receive rolling two-year contracts if he has a successful 2010-11 academic year as District 46's chief school business official. He was selected to replace Brad Goldstein, who starts July 1 as director of finance and operations at Hawthorn Elementary District 73 in Vernon Hills.

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<li><a href="/story/?id=377627">Excerpts from new District 46 business boss' statement <span class="date">[05/02/2010]</span></a></li>

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