Jeff Borgardt, Special to the Tribune

Community Consolidated School District 15 is looking for a new superintendent following the decision to replace Dan Lukich last week.

Board President Gerald Chapman said Tuesday morning the Board of Education plans to begin interviews with candidates and then select an interim superintendent “until a more permanent replacement can be found.”

The board is set to interview retired superintendents who specialize in serving as temporary interim school chiefs.

Chapman said there would not be enough time “at this point” to find a permanent superintendent for the next school year as class resumes in the last week of Aug. at the 20-school, 12,000-student district.

When asked if he was surprised this happened, Asst. Supt. Jim Garwood said “Yes, I’m surprised. I didn’t expect this.”
Garwood said he was not privy to the details explaining exactly why Lukich left his job.

As to whether he wants the top job at Dist. 15 himself, Garwood said “Not immediately. I’m quite content where I am at the moment” and said he would help with the transition of the new interim supt. in the near term.  

A special meeting has been set for July 7 for the board to begin looking for a replacement. Last Wednesday, the board voted 7-0 on a separation agreement with Lukich.

The terms of that deal call for him to vacate the office immediately. However, he continues to be paid until the conclusion of his three-year contract for another year to June 30, 2011.

Lukich, 63, began working as Dist. 15 superintendent in July 2008 after leaving a Suburban Cleveland school system. 

He was hired after a 16-month national search at a base salary of $202,000 that also includes a $6,000 car allowance, $10,000 performance bonus, 25 days of paid vacation, 12 sick days per year and health care and pension benefits.

Since Lukich came to the district, three new school board members have been elected.

According to a July 1 statement the board and Lukich “reached a mutual and amicable agreement…He expressed an interest in fulfilling the third year of the agreement without committing beyond. The board chose another path.”
The statement went on to say “The board and Lukich, by way of legal representatives, are each satisfied with the separation agreement.”

The issue of the superintendent’s contract, compensation and goals was taken up by the board at a closed-door three-hour meeting May 26, June 9 then again at last week’s meeting where Lukich’s resignation was accepted.

When asked on May 26 if he planned to remain in his post at the conclusion of the contract, Lukich said “no comment.”