D-86 Official Away From Job When Resignation Accepted

Editor's note: A previous version of this story stated Hinsdale High School District 86 had not provided a resignation letter from Domenico Maniscalco in response to a Patch public records request. That was incorrect. It had done so in response to a previous Patch request.

HINSDALE, IL — The human resources official for Hinsdale High School District 86 was already taking sick days when the school board accepted his resignation at a special meeting for that purpose on June 18. Through a public records request, Patch found that Chief Human Resources Officer Domenico Maniscalco took a vacation day June 15 and sick days from June 16 to 30.

In an email Wednesday, a district spokesman confirmed the superintendent and others were picking up Maniscalco's duties. But Maniscalco is still listed as the chief human resources officer on the district's website.

After the board voted to accept Maniscalco's resignation, board President Kevin Camden said the resignation would be effective Sept. 15. Minutes later, the board sent out a news release saying the district would look for someone to fill Mansicalco's position on an interim basis.

According to a June 24 Hinsdalean story, Maniscalco said he emailed Superintendent Tammy Prentiss saying he was rescinding his resignation. He told the newspaper that he thought it would be the subject of a board vote at a meeting the following week after the original vote. It was not discussed during that meeting's open session.

In a letter dated June 15, Maniscalco informed Prentiss he would resign Sept. 15.

"It has been an honor to lead the Human Resources Department in District 86 for the past eight years. I am so humbled and grateful to have worked alongside an amazing group of teachers, administrators, support staff, and board of education," he said.

Prentiss couldn't be reached for immediate comment. Maniscalco has not returned messages from Patch.

In the news release after the June 18 meeting, Prentiss praised Maniscalco, calling him a "trusted colleague and valuable member of our team."

A few months ago, Maniscalco made the news when he investigated a Hinsdale South High School's teacher's alleged racial slurs during a Black History Month "Empathy" lesson.

"It is my finding that you made an extremely bad judgment call and did not properly hear or listen to your students that day," Maniscalco said in a memo to the teacher.

Read other stories on Maniscalco's resignation:

District 86 Official Leaving Amid Unclear Circumstances

4 Questions About D-86 Official's Departure

D-86 Official Leaves Months Earlier Than Expected