Excerpts from new District 46 business boss' statement

Grayslake Elementary District 46's hiring of Edward Towle as chief school business official on April 7 became controversial when officials said they learned after the fact that he's been on paid leave from a similar job in Wisconsin. Here are portions of a statement Towle and his attorney, Robert Shumaker, released Saturday.

• Shumaker on Towle going on paid leave from his $107,449 job as Brown Deer School District's business manager in February 2009: "Sometimes bad things happen to good people and this is one of those situations."

• Towle on the buzz over his hiring at District 46: "With or without this publicity, the taxpayers of District 46 should expect nothing less from me and total accountability to the board of education and the district. All I ask is that you judge me by what I do rather than unfounded speculation. I expect to have a successful experience in Grayslake."

• Shumaker on meeting with District 46 board members on May 10: "I am very pleased to know that the Grayslake's school board's attorney has reminded the board members that they must remain open-minded. In Wisconsin, we have about 435 school districts and only a few of them get themselves into legal trouble each year. When school boards get good legal advice and follow the golden rule of treating others as they would like to be treated, things usually go well."