Woodland 50 to pay $1 million over four years to new superintendent

Woodland Elementary School District 50 will pay new superintendent Robert Machak $1 million over four years starting in July.

The board voted Thursday night to hire Machak from within to replace outgoing superintendent Lori Casey, who is set to retire in June.

Machak will earn a $250,000 annual base salary for each of the contract's four years, according to district documents. Machak will also earn $36,313.65 in other benefits, and each year the board may elect to give Machak a raise.

Machak was hired in July of 2020 to be the district's associate superintendent of education after serving as the superintendent of District 124 in Evergreen Park for eight years.

"Machak has already brought so much to our school district since joining the team," school board President Carla Little said. "The board of education is confident that Dr. Machak will make an excellent leader for this district."

Among Machak's accomplishments in the district is leading the effort to get regular COVID-19 testing up and running at district schools. To date, the district has collected and analyzed more than 38,000 samples from students and employees.

Machak also played a key role in implementing the district's test-to-stay program which allows students to stay in class as long as they are symptom-free and continue to test negative for COVID-19.

Machak said he was honored to be selected.

"I have loved every minute of my time here," Machak said. "Woodland has quickly become home to me and we have so much to look forward to together."

Casey said she believes Machak is a great fit for the community.

"I respect and admire his leadership style and I look forward to watching him apply those talents to a district that means so much to me personally and professionally," said Casey, who has been superintendent for about two years.

Casey's tenure as superintendent was always meant to be short. The same 2019 message to parents announcing her as the new top administrator also said Casey would retire after the 2021-22 school year, when her last contract ran out.

Casey was paid a starting annual salary of $198,000 and will receive an additional $100,000 after her two years are complete, documents show.

Machak's first day as superintendent will be July 1.