Sullivan staying as superintendent in Dist. 204
During Superintendent Karen Sullivan's first two years leading Indian Prairie Unit District 204, the district has posted a record composite ACT score of 24.7 and topped state averages on new standardized tests.
With these and other accomplishments under her educational belt, school board members say they're happy to extend her contract until June 30, 2020.
"I love District 204. I think we're doing some great things for students," said Sullivan, who has worked in the district for roughly 20 years. "I'm just happy I'm going to be able to continue leading this great district."
The four-year contract is technically a three-year extension of her original three-year deal approved in 2014, when she was chosen from a national field to succeed retiring Superintendent Kathy Birkett.
"We have been pleased with the seamless transition and the progress seen during her first two years as superintendent," school board President Lori Price said. "We applaud her continued focus on preparing our students for their futures."
Sullivan's contract spells out her base salary as $248,734 for the first year of the deal, with planned increases of 2 percent each year for the remaining three years. With a yearly employer contribution of 9 percent of her salary to the Teachers' Retirement System, the compensation rises to roughly $273,000.
Because Sullivan's contract spans multiple years, school code requires it to be performance-based. To show her performance, she will need to meet four goals:
• Analyze and promote student achievement and growth.
• Hire and retain a high-quality, effective teaching staff.
• Manage resources efficiently and effectively.
• Assess school climate for student and community focus.
The contract requires Sullivan to track her progress through yearly reports, many of which she already issues regularly to the board.
Within the goal of promoting student achievement, the contract adds a requirement to complete a technology plan that will put a personal computing device in the hands of each student by 2020. Increasing technology use will help nearly 28,000 students be ready for college or careers when they graduate from the district that serves parts of Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Plainfield.
"It's not the device, but how teachers use technology in instruction and how kids use it to create and innovate and problem-solve and think critically," Sullivan said. "Those are the skills employers want these days."
Before becoming superintendent, Sullivan, 58, of Hinsdale, was the district's assistant superintendent for human resources for three years. She has a background of 14 years in special education and school leadership in District 204 and three years as a curriculum and instruction administrator in Elmhurst Unit District 205.
Sullivan earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Illinois in speech and hearing science and speech/language pathology as well as a doctoral degree from Lewis University in educational leadership.
Superintendent contract highlights
Here are the key elements of the new contract for Indian Prairie Unit District 204 Superintendent Karen Sullivan.
Term: July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2020
Salary: $248,734.49 July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017; increases 2 percent each year; can be renegotiated if certain state education funding changes are made
Vacation: 20 days a year and 3 personal days
Benefits: Health, vision and dental insurance and sick days according to applicable district plans with the option of a flexible benefit plan
Memberships: School board pays membership costs for organizations such as Illinois Association of School Administrators and American Association of School Administrators as well as costs of attending state and national conventions
Annuity: $6,000 employer contribution each year
Teachers Retirement System contribution: 9 percent of salary each year
Retirement: One-year lump sum payment of between $15,000 and $30,000 depending on number of years in the district
Performance goals: Assess and promote student achievement and growth; hire and retain a high-quality, effective teaching staff; manage resources efficiently and effectively; Assess school climate for student and community focus