Superintendent’s deal was slap at taxpayers
The school board for District 128 (Libertyville/Vernon Hills High Schools) has decided to amend Superintendent Denise Herrmann’s contract and pay her all the remaining payments on her $304,290 annual salary and will allow her to seek certain “other professional work.” She will also be allowed to claim an additional year of credible earnings toward her retirement. But what is even more absurd is that she is getting $6,000 in transportation expenses. For what? This was all decided after the teacher’s union went public with a vote of “no confidence” for Herrmann.
Well folks, how about a vote of “no confidence” in the school board who voted on this ridiculous settlement?
I certainly hope this school district doesn’t come to the voters and ever ask for more money for funding if they are going to make decisions of this nature. But I think what really irritates me is that no public comment or input was allowed before they voted on this decision. It was a closed session.
Public comment was allowed months earlier, but that was before the public was even made aware that this type of settlement was even being considered. Where is the transparency that taxpayers are entitled to?
This school board should be ashamed of themselves with the precedent they have set. Maybe they were just following the lead of Northwest Suburban High School District 214 when they paid $174,789 to a long time finance chief who left in 2022 under mysterious circumstances that were not revealed to the public for months. Or maybe the $178,510 the same district paid in 2023 to a principal who went on medical leave and then resigned.
So, it appears that you can go ahead and as a leader of high school District 128 you can show a lack of leadership, create an environment of distrust and disrespect, demonstrate an alleged lack of planning in pursuit of educational initiatives and then get rewarded generously to stay home.
In almost every taxing district in this state, the schools receive the majority of residents’ tax bills. Gee, it’s no wonder why school district taxes are so high with financial decisions like this. Good luck District 128. You are going to need it.
Ray Cowin
Bartlett