The school board for Palatine-based Community Consolidated School District 15 held a special meeting Tuesday night to discuss the superintendent’s contract, compensation and goals.
But after meeting behind closed doors for nearly three hours, the board took no action before adjourning.
The subject of Supt. Daniel Lukich’s performance evaluation is now expected to be taken up by the board on June 9, board President Gerald Chapman said.
Formerly a suburban Cleveland schools chief, Lukich, 63, was hired as Dist. 15 superintendent in May 2008 after a 16-month national search.
Leading the 20-school, 12,000-student district, he has a three-year contract with a $202,000 base salary, $6,000 car allowance, $10,000 performance bonus, 25 days of paid vacation, 12 sick days and health care and pension benefits.
Wednesday morning, Lukich declined to comment on whether he plans to remain in his post at the conclusion of his current contract. He
“We’ve been discussing goals all year long,” Lukich said Wednesday morning. “There was some discussion the board may want to take action one way or another but they returned to open session and no action was taken.”
When asked if he plans to remain in his post at the conclusion of the contract, he said “no comment.”
Since Lukich came to the district, three new school board members have been elected. And in recent months, a proposal to borrow $27 million has sparked controversy and a petition drive to let the voters decide. Nearly 2,000 signatures on the petition were called into question.
An electoral board of Chapman, board Sec. June Becker and board member Tim Millar is slated to rule on the petitions at 7 p.m. June 3 meeting at Sundling Junior High.
— Jeff Borgardt, Special to the Tribune
A superintendent’s performance bonus is usually based on him or her having a pulse.
What is the performance bonus based on?
25 paid vacation days?? 12 sick days?? Give me a break! Where is the private sector does anyone get these kinds of benefits? The public sector has gotten so far from the reality of the real world where most of the taxpayers live.
At 63 year of age, expect Lukich to soon announce his retirement, just like all the others before him have done. Then, the school board will significantly increase his salary to inflate his pension payout, just like the board has done for all others before him.
And the music plays on …..
“Weve been discussing goals all year long.” Really? Has he achieved any of those goals? “When asked if he plans to remain in his post at the conclusion of the contract, he said no comment.” Remain at his post? I don’t think so. He’s kidding, right? “We will have none of that!” At the conclusion of his contract what we will do is:
1) Say tata to the worst hiring decision the Board has ever made.
2) Make Mr. Garwood the Superintendent, with a reasonable increase over his current salary, without having to waste time and taxpayer money doing a nationwide search. He’s already doing the Superintendent’s job anyway and we’ve seen the necessity of a Super needing a Ph.D. means absolutely bupkis. I personally think the need for a School Superintendent has outlived its usefulness and that their role is no longer a necessary one. My point has been proven during the past two years. For all intents and purposes, the District has not had a Superintendent for the past two years and life has moved on without one. But, if you really need one, Garwoods the choice.
3) Cross our fingers that the voters will remodel the Board at election time.
4) Before any future decisions are made, always first ask the question “Is this decision in the best interest of the students?”
5) Get Parent / Guardian / Taxpayer input whenever possible
and
6) Move the District forward with a new mentality and new curricula. In the years to come, these kids are going to, among many other professions, be the ones that design the bridges you drive across and the ones performing surgery on you. Think about it. They are the future and sooner or later your life will depend on the quality of education they received. Remember the adage What do you call a medical student that graduated last in his or her class? You call them Doctor.