I can hardly believe the lead story in Elgin’s Courier News today. Elgin’s District 46 school superintendent, someone named Connie Neale, told the school board she wanted a hefty raise, plus a “10-20% tax-free bonus on top of her current $242,000 salary,” according to school board member Daniel Rich.
Reporter Erin Calandriello wrote of the board members being told that Neale had networked across the state and nation and thought she could easily be hired elsewhere for more. Quoting Rich, reporter Calandriello wrote,
This means Neal will be making “around $400,000 next year.”
Rich pointed to her compensation package, which includes a car, disability insurance, health insurance, a cell phone and teachers retirement fund contributions, among other benefits.
Rich said the board was bargaining “with a gun to our heads.” She must be really something else. School board member Rich resigned as a result.
Of course, Neale didn’t have to resign. He could have just given the interview of what happened behind closed doors and watched what happened at the public meeting when Neale’s contract will presumably be approved by the remaining cowed school board members. Besides her ability to get another job, Neale pointed to 40 grade schools having made their goals under the No Child Left Behind Act and the school’s stronger financial situation.
The story did not mention that the better financial condition was the result of selling non-referendum working cash bonds.
Cross-posted on McHenry County Blog
