Lombard District 44 picks two interim superintendents
Two retired superintendents have been chosen to temporarily fill the shoes of Lombard Elementary District 44's James Blanche, who is stepping down June 30.
Kenneth Cull, former superintendent of Itasca Elementary District 10, and Patricia Wernet, former superintendent of Lisle Unit District 202, will each serve as interim superintendents in District 44 for half of the 2014-15 school year.
Cull will serve first, starting on July 1, said Therese Piper, executive secretary to the superintendent and board of education. Wernet will take over in January.
Piper said Cull and Wernet will be paid $1,200 for each day they work. Neither will receive any additional benefits.
The board likely will hire a search firm in August to find a permanent replacement, Piper said. The hope is to hire a new superintendent by January or February.
Because Cull and Wernet are retired, they are limited to 100 days of work per school year by the Illinois Teachers' Retirement System.
"We are very fortunate to have Dr. Cull and Dr. Wernet join our administrative team," school board President Brook Wozniak said in a statement.
Since retiring in 2008, Cull has served as interim superintendent for schools in Skokie, Winnetka and Lincolnwood. He received his doctoral, master's and bachelor's degrees at Northern Illinois University.
He is receiving an annual pension of $153,608.
Before working for District 202, Wernet served as superintendent of Berwyn South School District 100. She also held several positions in Palos School District 118 and Evergreen Park School District 124. Wernet received her doctoral degree from Aurora University and her master's and bachelor's degrees from Governors State University.
She is receiving an annual pension of $96,696.
Blanche said earlier this year that although he has one more year left on his contract, he decided 10 years at the helm of the district was enough. His last day will be June 30.