Retired superintendents who stay in Illinois can still collect multiple government checks, with one of the most common forms — becoming an “interim” superintendent — spurring a recent backlash.
The Illinois State Board of Education proposed rules that would require interim superintendents to have at least a one-year contract, work full time and contribute to the teacher pension system. That would rule out a retired superintendent who wanted to continue working part time — with a limit of 120 days or 600 hours — and still collect a pension.
“(It’s wrong) to handcuff school districts when initially they can truly save money and get quality. Winnetka is getting 27 years of superintendent experience at a cheaper cost,” said Mark Friedman, who works as a co-interim superintendent in Winnetka’s District 36.
Friedman earns $120,000 for 120 days work at the same time he collects a pension of $163,071. His co-interim superintendent, Kenneth Cull, also gets paid $120,000 for 120 days while collecting a $140,574 pension.
School boards often hire interims while they look for a permanent superintendent. But sometimes an interim becomes a permanent fixture.
Retired superintendent JoAnn Desmond has been working since 2002 as part-time superintendent in the one-school Bannockburn District 106, which has fewer than 200 students and a full-time principal.
Desmond, who earns $81,034 and works about 100 days, says she saves the district at least $100,000 annually in lieu of hiring a full-time superintendent. Her $186,771 educator pension allows her to accept a lower salary and forgo some raises, she said.
State data showed more than 100 retired educators worked in part-time district administration positions in 2009-10.
Last month, state board officials backed off the proposal requiring interims to work full time, in part because they were told they lacked authority to proceed.
Here are more ways that in-state retired superintendents can earn multiple incomes:
Move into higher education. The Tribune found retired superintendents working in a variety of roles in area colleges and universities, from instructor to dean.
Retired Wilmette Superintendent Glenn W. “Max” McGee, also a former state school superintendent, is president of the Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy, which is part of the higher education system. He earns $199,500 while collecting a $184,119 pension.
“I told the board upfront and made it really clear that this (multiple government incomes) could become an issue,” McGee said. He insisted on taking $10,000 less than trustees offered for the job, and has taken salary freezes for the last three years. McGee, now contributing to the State Universities Retirement System of Illinois, is on track to get a second pension.
Work at a private school. Retired from Oak Lawn’s High School District 218, Superintendent Kevin Burns collects a $206,495 pension. Now, he’s president of the Catholic Brother Rice High School.
“It was a super deal. He took less salary and no health insurance,” said Burton Odelson, chairman of the board of directors at Rice. He did not disclose Burns’ salary at the school.
Take a non-educator job. Retired Gurnee Superintendent Benjamin Martindale collects a $154,741 pension. After retiring, he became chief executive officer in financially troubled Round Lake District 116 and earned a base salary of $193,847 last school year. He also contributed to a second pension system, the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.
Martindale is now interim superintendent in North Chicago District 187, earning $120,000 for 120 days. He said he took a refund for the little he accumulated in the municipal fund.
“I’m not interested in, nor do I want, another pension,” he said.
