Prentiss Exit Pact OK'd, Kept Secret

DARIEN, IL – The Hinsdale High School District 86 board on Monday night approved a pact for the departure of Superintendent Tammy Prentiss, who was suspended more than a month ago.

But the board declined to give any details other than to say the agreement was about her employment until her retirement March 31, which is four months earlier than planned.

The board split 5-2 on the agreement, with members Debbie Levinthal and Jeff Waters against it.

Members made the decision after an hour-long closed meeting, with two lawyers attending.

The board voted in favor of appointing Jason Markey as the acting superintendent starting Saturday, with Levinthal and Kay Gallo dissenting. In May, Markey was selected to serve as the assistant superintendent of academics.

The current acting superintendent is Chris Covino, assistant superintendent of academics, who is leaving at week's end to become superintendent of La Grange School District 102.

The board did not discuss either of the issues during the open meeting. And the dissenters remained publicly silent about their objections.

The board quickly adjourned to another closed session about personnel issues. As the members retreated to another room, a Patch reporter asked whether the public could see the agreement between the district and Prentiss. Board President Catherine Greespon and other members declined to show it.

Patch filed a public records request for the document. It must be released under state law upon such a request.

Given that Prentiss is retiring in March, she is apparently set to make $242,000 while not working as superintendent, including the time she has been suspended.

In a statement after the meeting, the board said, "The Board will continue to partner with Ms. Prentiss in her remaining time as a District employee to ensure a smooth leadership transition."

In January, a previous board majority extended her contract to July 31, 2024, from June 30, 2024. The board also added a provision preventing the board from firing her for the results of an already-completed investigation into her handling of an anti-racist consultant.

The board took that action after the previous year's firestorm involving the consultant and Prentiss. This was likely in expectation of a new board majority taking office in May that was hostile to Prentiss' continued employment.

In fact, Kay Gallo, who was one of the three new board members, led the petition movement for Prentiss' ouster.

Prentiss did not attend Monday's meeting. She has declined to comment on the situation.

Editor's note: An original version of the story stated that members Debbie Levinthal and Jeff Waters voted against Jason Markey as acting superintendent. It was actually members Levinthal and Kay Gallo, not Waters.