New Dist. 15 superintendent to earn $202,000
Dan Lukich will see a hefty bump in salary when he takes over July 1 as superintendent of Palatine Township Elementary School District 15.
The 61-year-old stands to make $202,000, plus benefits, in the first of a three-year contract. Robert McKanna, who is retiring as superintendent this summer, earned a $175,000 base salary when he became district head in 2003.
According to the Chagrin Herald Sun in Ohio, Lukich's salary for this school year is $147,325 as superintendent of Orange Schools in suburban Cleveland.
With about 13,000 enrolled students, District 15 is five times the size the district Lukich is leaving.
Adding benefits and other perks, the total compensation package is worth closer to $250,000.
Among the highlights of Lukich's contract is an annual $10,000 performance bonus. He also gets a $6,000 car allowance.
Because Lukich is required to live in District 15, he'll be reimbursed for "reasonable costs of transportation" for household furnishings from his Ohio residence. He must present to the school board three estimates prior to selecting a carrier.
He can also receive up to $788 per visit for up to 10 visits he makes to the area to search for housing and assist with the transition.
District 15 will also pay Lukich's membership dues to unspecified professional development and civic groups.
As for vacation, Lukich is entitled to 25 paid working days each year, 10 of which can be carried over. But he'll be paid only for a maximum 10 unused vacation days when he leaves his post.
Lukich is granted 12 sick days, which can accumulate up to 340 days, as well as three paid personal leave days annually.
Finally, the board will pay about $20,000 in required contributions to the Teachers Retirement System and Teacher Health Insurance System.
Unlike the uproar over Connie Neale, former Elgin Area School District U-46 superintendent, none of the extras in Lukich's contract is out of line with those in similar-sized school districts. Neale's cost to taxpayers in her final year is more than half a million dollars. She's been on medical leave for much of it.