Ex-Badgers coach unaware Dist. 46 hire still had him as reference
Former University of Wisconsin men's basketball coach Dick Bennett says it was in the 1970s when he agreed to be a reference to help a high school student-athlete named Edward Towle get a job.
That's why Bennett expressed surprise when the Daily Herald informed him last week Towle listed him as a reference on a resume submitted to Grayslake Elementary District 46. Towle was hired as District 46's chief school business official April 7.
Bennett, who led Wisconsin to the Final Four in 2000, said it's been 10 to 15 years since he's seen Towle and that they don't keep in touch.
"If you were to say, 'What was the last position he had?' I couldn't even tell you," said Bennett.
It's the latest twist in what's become a controversial hiring decision in District 46.
Towle's contract for the chief school business official calls for a $98,000 salary, 25 vacation days and a chance to advance to assistant superintendent for business and finance. It begins on July 1.
But after he was hired, 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. He was on leave for more than 14 months, until he resigned on April 12 after accepting the District 46 job.
Towle's attorney, Robert Shumaker, said in a statement issued Saturday that it was appropriate for his client to have Bennett as a reference.
Bennett was coaching at Eau Claire Memorial High School in Wisconsin in the early or mid-1970s when he became acquainted with Towle, now 53. Bennett said it was "a long time ago" when he agreed to vouch for Towle.
Shumaker acknowledged Towle hasn't seen Bennett for a while. He said Towle and other Wisconsin alumni supported the school's recruitment of Bennett as coach in 1995.
"Not surprisingly, Dick Bennett was very influential on Edward in teaching him the value of hard work, fortitude and dealing with adversity," Shumaker said. "Edward often talks about the things he learned about life from Coach Bennett."
Correll said she didn't speak to Bennett, the only reference whose contact information wasn't on Towle's resume. She said she discussed Towle with Kerr and three others involved in education in Wisconsin.
"All of the references were very positive," Correll said.
Towle is expected to meet with the District 46 school board on May 10. 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=377625">District 46 board president wants full details from new finance boss <span class="date">[5/2/10]</span></a></li>
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