Elmhurst District 205 superintendent gets new contract
Superintendent David Moyer will remain at the helm of Elmhurst Unit District 205 through June 2020 under terms of a new three-year contract.
Moyer had one year left on his current pact with the district. But school board members, who expressed confidence in his leadership, agreed to terminate the contract at the end of June and sign a new agreement that will run an additional three years.
Moyer will receive a $225,951.60 base salary for the 2017-18 school year, out of which he must pay for the cost of the health insurance package he chooses.
The district pays $22,346.84 to the state's Teachers' Retirement System toward his pension. The district also kicks in $2,530.66 to the Teachers' Health Insurance System, which provides health insurance in retirement.
The board could provide a "modest" pay increase after reviewing Moyer's salary and benefits at the end of the school year along with compensation for other administrators. The district will pay for membership fees to service organizations the superintendent joins "to the extent provided for in the board's annual budget," according to the terms of the 15-page contract.
The board considered whether to hold off on a new deal until after the April 4 election, member Chris Blum said in a prepared statement Tuesday night. But the uncontested race for three available seats on the board features only one newcomer, Kara Caforio. Incumbents Jim Collins and Margaret Harrell are each running for another 4-year term.
The current board also hired Moyer in June 2015 and has "closely evaluated his performance," Blum said. Moyer previously was superintendent of Moline-Coal Valley District 40.
He has since met board goals tied to student achievement, finances and community engagement, board President Shannon Ebner said in a prepared statement. During his tenure, the district has launched a campaign called Focus 205 to gather input on curriculum and the future of aging buildings through surveys and forums.
"We've extensively gone out to the community and the employee base, and we kept hearing at various different meetings that we want to move the district forward," board member Karen Stuefen said.
"Employees consistently said, 'We want to get back to (being) the district that other districts come to for best practices. We want to start leading the charge.' And so it has been refreshing to have you come in, Dave, with that vision and truly being a visionary leader."
Ebner also cited several academic accolades for the district under Moyer's direction. The College Board has named York High School to the Advanced Placement District Honor Roll in recent years. The list recognizes more than 430 schools across the country that have increased participation in AP classes and maintained or improved passing rates on AP exams.
Graduating seniors last year also earned an average score of 24.7 on the ACT college entrance exam - a record high for the district. The state average in 2016 was 20.8.