Grayslake District 46 boss still seeking contract extension
Grayslake Elementary District 46 board members Wednesday night deadlocked on whether to award a contract extension for Superintendent Ellen Correll.
Under the 1-year extension proposed through the 2013-14 academic season, Correll’s compensation package wouldn’t be boosted, District 46 board President Ray Millington said. Correll’s total compensation package is $213,083 for the 2012-13 school year, documents show.
Board members voted 3-3 on whether to award Correll an extension, meaning the motion failed. Millington said the proposal could return at another meeting.
Millington tried to garner support for Correll before the vote.
“We need Ellen here to keep us going forward,” Millington said. “She’s done, in my estimation, a great job in light of some pretty tough times that we’ve got.”
District 46 is grappling with a $49.1 million budget for the current academic year budget that projects a $1.2 million deficit. While Correll gave a presentation on possible cuts to shrink the deficit, she offered to return $11,000 of the $17,000 that goes toward her medical insurance. In September 2011, Correll received a 1-year contract extension through 2012-13 by a 4-3 board vote. Michael Carbone, Shannon Smigielski and Kip Evans — who voted against the last extension — did so again Wednesday without comment.
Millington, Keith Surroz and Karen Weinert voted in favor of extending Correll through 2013-14. District 46 board member Susan Facklam was absent.
Hired in January 2005, Correll came to District 46 from Corning Painted Post School District in upstate New York, where she had been an assistant superintendent of instruction.
Correll’s supporters have pointed to improved student academic performance and her ability to navigate through millions of dollars in budget cuts since 2009. However, opponents have raised many questions, including her sending emails from her District 46 account that were perceived as backing certain school board candidates in the April 2011 election.