Brad Goldstein, a Lake County school district financial official, will become the newest chief financial officer at Winnetka Public Schools District 36, district officials announced last week.
Goldstein succeeds Greg Kurr, who came out of retirement in 2015 to handle district financial affairs for two years following the retirement of Susan Pingitore, according to District Supt. Trisha Kocanda.
Goldstein currently serves as associate superintendent of finance and business in Hawthorn Community Consolidated School District 73, a six-school elementary school district in Vernon Hills. He will officially take over the Winnetka position on July 1, Kocanda said.
Between now and his official first day, Goldstein will work with Kurr to ensure a smooth handover, she said: “Beginning in March, Brad will have his first site visit, and we can begin to tailor a transition plan for him.”
Goldstein’s responsibilities will include overseeing the district’s finance operations, as well as well as management of the district’s buildings and grounds.
Kocanda said that Goldstein’s experience with what she called “complicated and not always intuitive” Illinois school finance procedures was one reason the district chose him. She said his experience in the private sector, prior to several positions with Illinois school districts, was another plus in the eyes of district officials.
“It’s important that we have someone in this position that understands that teaching and learning are our highest priorities, but who is also respectful of our taxpayers, and is a good steward with our resources,” she said.
The district school board, which met Feb. 21, approved a two-year contract with Goldstein. According to the contract, his annual salary will be $170,000 the first year, and he will have a $30,000 annual cash stipend that can be used to purchase insurance, as well as a $6,000 contribution toward an annuity or custodial retirement account. The district will also pay Goldstein’s required contributions to the state’s Teachers’ Retirement System, according to the contract.
Kocanda said the district hired the search firm of Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates last November to gather a pool of roughly 40 potential candidates, “which was twice what we’d expected and a good indicator of how we’re viewed as a district.”
A panel of district principals, administrators, board members and representatives of the Winnetka Education Association helped winnow the pool down, and a smaller group of district representatives interviewed the finalists, Kocanda said.
In a Feb. 21 press release from District 36, Goldstein said, “I look forward to collaborating with the Winnetka Public Schools community to focus on the district’s facility needs, and ensure that the finances of the district serve to meet the educational goals of the students.”
Before Goldstein’s term with Hawthorne District 73, he was the chief business official at Community Consolidated School District 46 in Lake County, according the press release.
He has a master’s degree in education with an emphasis on school business management from Northern Illinois University, and a bachelor’s degree from the College of Business and Michigan State University, it said.
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