Breuder gets 3% raise even though he's on leave
College of DuPage President Robert Breuder received a 3 percent raise last month even though he was on paid administrative leave, was banned from campus and had a majority of the school's trustees actively looking for ways to fire him.
But when the new fiscal year began July 1 at the state's largest community college, Breuder was in line for, and received, a $9,146 raise that boosted his annual base salary to $314,034, making him one of the highest-paid community college presidents in the state. His total yearly compensation package rose to $495,357.
The existing COD board, which put Breuder on paid leave in late April, had no say in the pay bump.
Instead, COD spokesman Randall Samborn said, the pay hike for Breuder and other administrators was approved by the previous board in May 2014.
“They approved a 3 percent raise, and it went it automatically,” he said.
As a result, two other COD administrators who were placed on leave by the new board also got 3 percent raises July 1.
Senior Vice President of Administration Thomas Glaser received an extra $6,760 a year and now is being paid $232,112. Assistant Vice President of Financial Affairs Lynn Sapyta's adjusted salary is $163,828.
Breuder was placed on paid administrative leave after three new members were seated on the COD board of trustees, forming a new majority and electing Kathy Hamilton as chairwoman.
Hamilton and the new majority also hired attorneys to conduct internal probes of the school's policies, personnel, practices and finances. Breuder was put on leave pending the outcome of the investigations.
The new board is expected to consider terminating Breuder's contract when it meets tonight. He currently is scheduled to step down at the end of March 2016 with a nearly $763,000 severance package.
Glaser and Sapyta, meanwhile, were placed on leave in June amid questions involving their investment practices.