What's College of Lake Co. getting for ex-president's $195,000 salary?

Six months ago, College of Lake County President Richard Fonte's title changed to assistant.

His office was moved from CLC's Grayslake campus to his Wauconda home.

Fonte's $195,000 annual salary, however, remained the same.

His assignment, college board members said, was to assist board President William Griffin obtain federal grants for the school.

A recent inquiry about the status of Fonte's work, however, has yielded few details. And while a public policy official says Fonte's arrangement with CLC is unusual but not illegal, some faculty members say trustees aren't being forthright enough about Fonte and his work for the college.

College officials have refused to provide any documents or concrete details about the work Fonte has done since the June job change, citing human resource confidentiality rules.

"Though some may question the action, the board continues to believe that the decision was made in the best interest of the college," Griffin said in a written response to questions.

Repeated attempts to reach Fonte, 62, were unsuccessful.

The Daily Herald filed a formal request with CLC requesting copies of business-related correspondence between Fonte and Griffin; expense reports filed by Fonte; records of how many hours per week Fonte has worked for CLC; and copies of federal and state grant proposals he has written from June though September.

The request was denied by the college. Officials said the information was not available.

On June 12, Fonte resigned as president and was appointed special assistant to Griffin through March 1, 2008. Fonte was hired after a nationwide search in January 2006. His contract was to end Dec. 31, 2008.

Griffin has maintained the resignation was a mutual decision.

Since assuming his new position, Fonte's work has involved the analysis of state and national issues affecting CLC, Griffin said.

"So far he has submitted a total of three reports on financial aid and dual enrollment, two important issues facing the college," Griffin said.

"Dr. Fonte has wide experience in higher education and in-depth knowledge of state and federal policies affecting colleges," Griffin said. "He has provided useful insights into the complexities of federal financial aid requirements and dual enrollment trends."

Because Fonte is not an hourly employee, the college is not tracking his hours, Griffin said.

CLC Trustee Barbara Oilschlager was the only person to vote against Fonte's new appointment.

"If someone is resigning from the college, I don't think we should be creating another position for them at the college," she said, adding that the board has gotten some information about grants Fonte is working on, but no specifics.

Cindi Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, said private corporations often have leaders step down from their post who are later hired on as consultants.

The difference, Canary said, is most leave behind their salary and benefits, and are paid hourly.

"It is interesting that (CLC) set this up as a staff position," Canary said. "It is their prerogative as a board though. Whether it is a good expenditure of resources, I don't know."

Some faculty members view Fonte's move from president to assistant as a whitewash by the board.

Faculty members began questioning Fonte's leadership five months into his tenure when communication arts Dean Jean Kartje learned her contract would not be fully renewed.

After protests, the board reinstated Kartje's full contract.

It was during that time that some faculty pointed to problems Fonte had with staff members at previous jobs.

During a stint as community college president in Austin, Texas, Fonte was admonished by staff multiple times with "no-confidence" votes, according to local newspaper articles. Teachers cited planning, credibility and financial problems, the media in Austin, Texas, reported.

During that same tenure, however, Fonte was given raises and received accolades from the Austin Community College board.

"I think the faculty is mostly just glad he is gone," said Dr. Tom Arnold, a criminal justice instructor. "From the national search for (Fonte) to this, it is just a complete waste of money all the way around."