In Dist. 62 superintendent's absence, No. 2 administrator running operations
The Des Plaines Elementary District 62 school board said Friday its No. 2 in command is running day-to-day operations in the absence of Superintendent Floyd Williams.
Associate Superintendent Paul Hertel has been providing day-to-day leadership for district educational and administrative operations in place of Williams, who has been on leave since Oct. 17, the board said in a late Friday news release, which was also posted to the front of the district's website. District officials initially said last week that Williams was working remotely.
District spokeswoman Jennifer Bova said Williams is on a "family leave," and referred other questions to Hertel and Board President Stephanie Duckmann, who couldn't immediately be reached.
School board members deliberated behind closed doors for more than three hours Monday amid Williams' absence, taking no action after emerging from executive session and adjourning until another special meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8.
On Monday, Duckmann didn't confirm whether the meeting was about Williams, though the agenda stated the board was to discuss the "appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the district." Williams wasn't in attendance, but Hertel and Assistant Superintendent Nelson Gray were.
Duckmann hasn't said whether Williams' absence is voluntary or imposed, calling it a "private matter."
Williams, hired in July 2016, is in the second year of a three-year contract paying an annual salary of $198,000.
Hertel, hired in 2006 as director of human resources, was later promoted to assistant superintendent and in July 2009 associate superintendent. District officials say he has full licensure to serve as a district administrator and a superintendent.