Grayslake schools’ business manager quits

Grayslake Elementary School District 46 will be looking for its fifth business manager in nearly three years.

District 46 board members Thursday night voted 5-0 on a “personnel report as presented” that included the resignation of Chief School Business Official David Tylavsky, who had a one-year contract for $96,000. He didn’t attend the meeting and the reason for his departure was not made public.

Tylavsky left his job as a district manager at food service provider Sodexo Inc. to join District 46. Board member Susan Facklam said Tylavsky, who started July 1, is scheduled to work through the end of this month.

District 46 turned to Tylavsky after sacking Edward Towle, who topped about 40 candidates and was supposed to start as finance chief last July. Towle was fired in May before he began the job.

Towle was hired as business boss while he was on paid leave at Brown Deer School District in suburban Milwaukee. District 46 officials said they learned about Towle’s job status after he was hired.

School officials said Tylavsky was judged to be the No. 2 candidate for business manager before officials hired Towle on April 1, 2010. They said Tylavsky’s background was thoroughly checked before he was offered the top finance job.

District 46’s business manager merry-go-round began when Daniel Aggen departed for an administration post at Itasca Elementary District 10 before the 2008-09 academic year began.

Aggen was replaced by Brad Goldstein, who left after about two years for a similar finance job at Hawthorn Elementary District 73 in Vernon Hills last July.

Towle was supposed to fill Goldstein’s job as chief school business official. His contract called for a path to promotion as assistant superintendent for business and finance. Tylavsky didn’t receive any advancement guarantee in his contract when he was hired to replace Towle.

Facklam said finance consultant Vic Berner will handle District 46’s business tasks until a permanent boss is hired.

Before Thursday night’s personnel vote, District 46 board member Ray Millington criticized recent public comments made about Tylavsky. School board candidate Kip Evans made the remarks that irked Millington during public comment time at a District 46 meeting last week.

Evans said he understood that Tylavsky had been fired and wanted answers from the board. Evans claimed he obtained the information from Tylavsky.

“Mr. Evans, I have in my hands a signed letter from Mr. Tylavsky that refutes your statement,” Millington said.

Evans said after Thursday’s meeting that he stood by his comments.