Ex-Villa Park D45 Leader Investigated: Records

VILLA PARK, IL – The former superintendent of Villa Park School District 45 was under investigation by the district before the board demoted him last week.

Despite the demotion, he is set to get a $10,000 raise.

Through a public records request, Patch on Tuesday received documents related to former Superintendent Anthony Palmisano. Last week, the board approved an agreement for him to leave in the fall of 2025.

"A recent investigation related to (Palmisano's) leadership style did not result in disciplinary action," Superintendent Brian Graber said in a letter to Patch. "The Board and Mr. Palmisano mutually agreed to amend his employment contract through his planned retirement in 2025."

In its statement last week, the district said Palmisano was "transitioning" into a new role as assistant superintendent.

But it failed to reveal that his agreement stipulated that for the rest of his time with the district, Palmisano will be on either paid or unpaid administrative leave. Under the terms, he will be considered a licensed employee who will perform unspecified duties as assigned.

In the statement, the board did not note that Palmisano already had been on paid administrative leave for six months.

In response to Patch's records request, District 45 released an Oct. 19 letter from the district's Chicago-based law firm, Robbins Schwartz, to Palmisano.

Attorney Catherine Locallo told Palmisano that she was acting on behalf of the board. She said Palmisano was being placed on paid leave because of an investigation. The purpose of that inquiry was redacted from the document given to Patch.

A Robbins Schwartz attorney, Kevin Noll, would conduct the investigation, Locallo said.

She said that "in view of the nature of the allegations," Palmisano was asked not to be on district property or at any district activity after Oct. 19.

Locallo further asked Palmisano not to discuss the matter with staff, students or parents.

"You are not to retaliate against any individual you believe has provided or may provide information to the District regarding these concerns," Locallo wrote.

Although Locallo said she was acting on the board's behalf, members did not vote in an open meeting on placing Palmisano on leave. Under the Open Meetings Act, all board actions must be taken in public.

In January 2023, the board announced Palmisano, whose salary is now $253,536, would serve through the end of the 2024-25 school year, with an official retirement date of Oct. 1, 2025. The board also said it gave Graber a four-year contract, with the understanding that he would succeed Palmisano as superintendent.

Last week's agreement states Palmisano will take sick leave through June 30 for "sick leave reasons."

From July 1 to March 15, Palmisano will be on paid administrative leave, according to the document.

His salary during that year will be $263,706, as the board previously determined, the agreement states. That's higher than the $256,000 salary for the superintendent of neighboring Elmhurst School District 205, Keisha Campbell, who leads a district twice the size.

From March 16 through June 30 next year, Palmisano is scheduled to be on unpaid administrative leave.

Starting July 1, 2025, Palmisano will retire after 36 consecutive work days on paid administrative leave.

Until his departure, Palmisano will use certain numbers of sick and vacation days, according to the agreement.

Despite being on leave, the agreement states that Palmisano "shall be reasonably available with appropriate notice to perform administrative duties" as directed by the school board president.

The agreement is somewhat similar to the one that Robbins Schwartz negotiated last year with Tammy Prentiss, former superintendent of Hinsdale High School District 86.

Prentiss was removed from her position, but continued to receive her pay for much of the next year. She, too, was considered a licensed employee and expected to perform duties as assigned. However, Patch discovered through public records requests that Prentiss was never asked to do any work for the district.

In both cases, Robbins Schwartz advised the boards on the process of ousting their superintendents. Both boards decided behind closed doors to place their superintendents on leave, despite the Open Meetings Act. In District 86's case, the board took a public vote a week and a half later.

Both agreements included clauses barring either side from disparaging the other. The pacts essentially served as bridges to retirement for Palmisano and Prentiss.

Graber and District 45's board president, Judy Degnan, did not return emailed messages for comment Tuesday. Palmisano couldn't be reached for immediate comment.

Palmisano worked for the district for 31 years. His LinkedIn page indicates he became superintendent in 2013.

District 45 includes all or parts of Villa Park, Lombard and Oakbrook Terrace.