Plenty of perks in contract of new Round Lake Dist. 116 boss
Round Lake Unit District 116's new superintendent will receive a $6,000 annual automobile allowance as part of her contract when she takes command in July.
Roughly two weeks ago, District 116's elected board and the state finance authority that has been running the district approved Constance Collins' hiring at a $207,000 annual base salary in a five-year, annually renewable contract. She will be District 116's first superintendent since it was on the brink of financial collapse when the state took over eight years ago.
Collins' deal goes beyond the base salary, according to her seven-page contract obtained this week by the Daily Herald through the Freedom of Information Act.
Her Round Lake schools contract calls for a $500 monthly automobile allowance, or $6,000 annually, for necessary expenses incurred for the use of her personally owned or leased vehicle during official in-district travel as superintendent.
Collins gets the allowance no matter how much she actually drives between the administrative offices and any of the district's nine schools. She could not be reached for comment.
Furthermore, Collins can be reimbursed for some driving outside the district.
"The district shall reimburse Collins at the maximum IRS allowable mileage rate for out-of-Chicago collar county business travel," her contract says.
Meanwhile, Collins' salary increases can't be less than the all-urban consumer price index for a calendar year. She also can't receive a raise of less than 1 percent or more than 6 percent.
District 116 Chief Executive Officer Ben Martindale said Collins' contract is fair, especially considering the challenges that await at her new job. He said he understands the sensitivities about school officials' pay packages in a poor economy.
"No matter what you say, people in this community or others will say this (deal) is excessive," Martindale said.
District 116 board President Nanci Radford said Collins won't be profiting from the car allowance because it's reimbursement for her local travel expenses. She said the contract is appropriate for the experience and skill Collins will bring District 116.
"I feel the board was fiscally responsible in hiring the superintendent," Radford said.
Collins, 58, who has been superintendent of Oak Park Elementary District 97 since 2005, has a $201,773 base salary in her current job. She also was granted a $6,000 car allowance at the 10-school district, and pension contributions and insurance coverage is part of a total package of $243,326 in her final year there.
District 116 will make yearly pension contributions for Collins as well. She'll have to pay $35,000 in "liquidated damages" to the district if she resigns before June 30, 2015.
Her $207,000 base at District 116 stacks up with what's paid to superintendents in more affluent school systems.
Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 board members in February hired Brian Harris as the new superintendent for a $195,000 base in his first year. Like Collins, Harris will start his job July 1.
Barrington Unit District 220 Superintendent Tom Leonard's base this week was upped to $206,560. He'll receive 6 percent raises in each of the next four years.