D135 Gives OK for Raises for Admins, Bond Sales and a New Prairie Principal (Live Blog Transcript)

Update, 5:50 a.m. Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Money spent on raises for Orland School District 135 administrators will not cancel out the return on a tax abatement for homeowners, according to a district official.

Among a flurry of approvals Monday night were bond refunds that are expected to both save the school district money and pay back some taxes.

According to John Reiniche, D135 Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, the bond refunds could result in between $800,000 and $975,000 in savings. One of the two bond sales will result in a tax abatement.

Administrators, Supervisors, Secretaries Raises

Board approved 3 percent salary raises for district administrators and supervisors, as well as 4 percent raises for secretaries and other support staff. Interim Superintendent Dennis Soustek said administrators and supervisors have not had a raise in two years, and that the raise for secretaries would put them on a level field with staff in other districts.

Reiniche said the raises would not cancel out the tax abatement expected to come from one of the bond sales. By eliminating the director of technology position, a principal retiring and the difference between Colleen Schultz’s salary and that of Ellen Belotti, the district will spend less on administrative salaries than in the past school year, Reiniche said.  

New Principal

Jeff Nightingale will be taking over the helm at after Debra Ciaccio retires at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. He now serves as principal and Northeast Elementary School in Evergreen Park. The Mokena resident began his career working as a probation officer and later with a foster agency before returning to school for teaching certification.

“I never thought it would evolve the way it has,” Nightingale said Monday night. “I’m excited to be here and I look forward to meet the families and staff.”

Soustek noted that Nightingale was chosen among over 80 candidates.

Original Post, 5:58 a.m. Monday, April 9, 2012

Orland School District 135’s Board of Education is expected to look at a few adjustments to their employment practices, to prevent the possibility of a conflict of interest between relatives.

The proposed nepotism policy would suggest people “who are related by blood, marriage, or reside in the same household are discouraged from working in the same department and if in the opinion of Orland School District 135, a conflict arises as a result of the relationship, one of the employees may be transferred at the earliest practical time,” according to school district documents.

The policy also aims to keep relatives out of any human resources decisions, such as “wages, hours, benefits, career progress and other terms and conditions,” according to the district.

Also up for a read is a at the March 22 meeting.

You are welcome to ask questions and join in the discussion through Cover It Live, though the same rules will apply to comments as they do on the site.

The full board meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. The transcript will remain on site after the meeting wraps.

Attached are the meeting agendas with what will be discussed tonight, and the full meeting packet can be seen online. Leading up to the meeting, let me know if there's anything you particularly want to know about in the comments.

Read on for past examples of live blogs.

Want the news delivered? Sign up for our daily email newsletter.

Like us on Facebook for a slightly different take.