District 113A Board Approves Administrative Salary Freeze, Sets Date for Selecting New Officers

For the third year in a row, the  Board of Education has approved a salary freeze for all administrators, including the district's three building principals.

District 113A board members voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve all administrator contracts for the 2012-13 school year. Board Member and official spokesperson Lisa Wright confirmed that administrators have again taken a voluntary salary freeze in order to help with district finances.

"The administrators and the Board of Education recognize the need to continue to control costs. We are all working together," Wright said in an email Wednesday.

Contracts were approved for Asst. Superintendent Mary Gricus, Director of Student Services Susan Wulczyn, Director of Operations Pam Mazurek, Director of Technology Steve Davis, Business Manager Barbara Germany,  Principal Bill Caron and Asst. Principal Shirley Kleehammer,  Principal Cathy Slee and Asst. Principal Joanne Policht, and  Principal Deb Lynch.

During the meeting, the board also agreed to hold its annual reorganization meeting May 1. In addition to setting dates for upcoming board meetings, board members will elect individuals to the offices of president, vice president treasurer and secretary.

Currently, Mike Aurelio is serving as president, Dave Molitor is vice president, Cindy Kelly is secretary and Business Manager Barbara Germany is treasurer.

In other business, the board also directed Germany and District 113A Interim Superintendent Robert Madonia to continue an analysis of school fees.

This year, the administration is recommending an increase in fees to match the current Consumer Price Index of 3 percent.

The increase will be applied to the technology fee (annual licenses, the web-based database for student attendance and records, Internet security server, equipment purchases and replacement parts for LCD projectors) and the books/materials fee (teaching supplies, copying costs, workbooks, textbooks, classroom equipment, paper, music instruments, art supplies, etc.).

Finally, the board approved the purchase of a new cooling system for the server room at Old Quarry, which district officials say "has not been operating at its peak capacity."

According to the agenda packet, the server room must maintain a consistent cooling temperature in order to preserve the integrity of the district's systems. Due to "functionality issues," the administration is recommending an upgrade to the current system at Old Quarry, which would require the installation of two new air conditioning units.

District 113A received three quotes for the upgrade. The board voted 6-0 to accept the lowest quote from the Lemont-based A. Dandy Cooling and Heating in the amount of $16,928. Board Member Kevin Doherty abstained.

The board also voted 6-0 to approve a $2,290 contract with Precision Control Systems to cover the programming of the controller, installation of a space sensor, and labor and design. 

The next meeting of the District 113A Board of Education is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 17 in the Old Quarry Middle School LRC, 16100 W. 127th St.

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