McHenry County regional superintendent candidate withdraws
The search for a regional superintendent of schools in McHenry County is back to square one after an Elgin school principal withdrew his nomination when reports of his arrest record surfaced.
The appointment of Jeffrey Schleff, of Island Lake, principal at Lords Park Elementary School in Elgin, was scheduled to be discussed by the county board on Tuesday; Schleff withdrew his application on Monday.
County Administrator Peter Austin said county officials were informed Jan. 31 by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s office that Schleff had an arrest record after information about his proposed appointment appeared in a blog post.
Domestic battery charges against Schleff regarding a matter involving his ex-wife were dropped in 2009. That same year, she filed an emergency order of protection that was withdrawn. A year earlier, she was charged with domestic battery, later changed to battery, in a case involving Jeffrey Schleff; she completed supervision and alcohol treatment. The couple was married in 2007, and their divorce was finalized in 2010.
In 2008, Jeffrey Schleff was ordered to DUI school and supervision related to a DUI charge. Another DUI charge was dropped in 2006.
Austin explained that the state-issued application that Schleff filled out asks if candidates have been convicted of crimes other than a minor traffic violation. Schleff was truthful when he said he hadn’t been, Austin said.
On Friday, the public health and human services committee forwarded Schleff’s nomination to the county board without making a recommendation.
Committee Chairman Virginia Peschke said she thought Schleff was acting “in good faith.”
“He’s not a politician, but he would have had to deal with an election (in November),” she said. “We felt the decision was better left to him.”
Schleff was not forthcoming about his arrest record, reason enough to doubt he was the right pick for the post, committee member Donna Kurtz said.
In his letter of withdrawal, Schleff stated his commitment to public education. “Have I made mistakes in my professional and personal life? I am not perfect, and it appears to some not suited for the position or the political scrutiny of officials in McHenry County,” he wrote. Schleff did not return a call requesting comment.
On Tuesday, county board Chairman Ken Koehler apologized to county board members, many of whom believed Schleff’s appointment was a sure thing before reports of his arrest record surfaced.
“The saga continues,” Koehler said. “It’s been a difficult journey, and certainly this was another twist that was not expected.”
The McHenry County post has been vacant since June, when Gene Goeglein retired early and Jon Williams, who was elected in November to replace Goeglein, retired before taking over July 1. Candidates have to meet a long list of requirements regarding their education and certifications. They also have to be Republicans, as Williams is.
Koehler said that while Schleff was being vetted, the county received three more applications to the post, and one of them looks promising. “We’re in the process of having the state looking at the credentials,” he said.
The Lake County Regional Office of Education will continue to help out during the vacancy in McHenry County, Koehler said.