http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/557602,3_1_EL14_A1CONNIE_...
ELGIN -- Elgin School District U46 officials are defending Superintendent Connie Neale and the employment contract they signed with her earlier this year, saying she abided by all physical examination requirements and signed the document in good faith.
Neale announced Monday that she is taking a medical leave of absence starting Sept. 21. Neale last spring negotiated the controversial contract with the district that provides her with lifetime medical benefits with no deductible for herself and her family, more than 430 days of sick leave, money for the purchase of extra disability insurance, and money for long-term care insurance should she retire.
(MARINA MAKROPOULOS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
"Dr. Neale has complied with all physical examination requirements outlined in her contract," district spokesman Tony Sanders said Thursday.
"She has also provided the board of education with proper documentation from a physician regarding her need to take medical leave."
Neale's contract states that she must "submit to a comprehensive health examination by no later than Jan. 15 of each contract year. Such health examination shall include tests deemed necessary by the doctor or required by the board" of education.
This health exam for U46 superintendents is a routine process, Sanders said.
"It has been a standing practice for the superintendent to undergo a physical examination like any other employee upon being hired," said Sanders. "It is done to ensure the superintendent is able to fulfill the duties required by the position.
"Dr. Neale and past superintendents have been asked by the board to also submit to annual physical exams," Sanders continued.
"Pursuant to the contract, and state law, the reports are treated as confidential information by the board."
Due to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations, as well as state personnel laws, the district says its cannot comment on Neale's illness, nor when it began. Neale did not say what illness prompted the decision to take medical leave when she made her announcement Monday, although she was seen last week using a walker at a district function.
Neale's latest contract included a $20,000 raise and a 10 percent tax-free bonus, pushing her total compensation to more than $400,000 next year, including use of a cell phone and car, health benefits, a contribution to the state Teachers' Retirement System, and other benefits, according to school board documents. U46 is the largest district in Illinois outside Chicago.
Many of the clauses that were modified in Neale's latest contract revolve around insurance benefits, sick leave and disability.
Her original contract with the district in 2002 stated, "The board shall provide full hospital, surgical, major medical, and dental insurance coverage for the superintendent and eligible dependent members of the superintendent's immediate family during the term of this contract."
Now the contract not only states this, but it also has added a clause stating, "The Board shall provide the Superintendent with an allowance of Four Thousand Eight Hundred and No/100 ($4,800.00) Dollars per year, paid to her in lieu of reimbursement for her long-term care insurance. Upon the Superintendent's retirement or the end of this Contract, the Board shall continue to pay the allowance for long-term care insurance to the Superintendent and also shall pay the cost of full hospital, surgical, major medical, and dental insurance coverage for the Superintendent and eligible dependent members of the Superintendent's immediate family until her death."
The 2002 contract stated, "the Superintendent has accumulated 50 days of sick leave. For each subsequent Contract year, the Superintendent shall be granted 12 days of sick leave annually, the unused number of which, when combined with any of the foregoing unused sick leave from the previous contract years, shall be accumulated without limitation."
The 2006-07 contract states the same benefits, except it has upped the number of sick leave days. It states, "the Superintendent has accumulated 430 days of sick leave."
In Neale's 2005-06 contract, a clause was inserted stating, "the Board shall provide the Superintendent with a payment of Four Thousand Eight Hundred and No/100 ($4,800.00) Dollars per year, to contribute towards her purchase of extra disability insurance," and the amount is "to be allocated among the Supplemental Retirement Plans as described therein."
It goes on to state, "Further, these provisions regarding extra disability insurance shall be retroactive to July 1, 2004, such that the Board will contribute the disability insurance payment for the 2004-2005 Contract year to the Supplemental Retirement Plans." This clause has remained in place since 2005-06.
Ken Kaczynski, board president, said Neale was unaware of her medical condition when she signed the changes to her original contract.
"I was not a board member when she signed her original contract" in 2002, said Kaczynski, who became a board member in 2003, "but there is no doubt in my mind the subsequent amendments she has signed while I have been on the board were signed in good faith."
I can't tell you how outrageous this is. What kind of money are we paying this woman? This is a failing school and we are giving her $$$$$!
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