D-86 Texts Reveal Rift With Official

HINSDALE, IL — The words were nice two months ago when the Hinsdale High School District 86 board voted to accept its top human resources official's resignation. Superintendent Tammy Prentiss called the official, Domenico Maniscalco, a "trusted colleague and a valuable member of our team."

She went on to say Maniscalco's hard work and dedication had a "profound and lasting impact" on the success of students, staff and the schools. However, her correspondence with Maniscalco in the days after the board meeting was not nearly so friendly.

On June 18, the board accepted Maniscalco's resignation after closing its doors for nearly a half hour. His resignation was the only topic during the special meeting that day.

The board has kept the circumstances of Maniscalco's situation a secret. What Patch knows is largely through the district's responses to public records requests over the last couple of months.

In response to Patch's latest request, District 86 provided communications between Prentiss and Maniscalco after his resignation.

Four days after the board voted on his resignation, Maniscalco told Prentiss in an email that he would like to withdraw his resignation. He requested she forward that information to the school board.

In a June 23 text message to Maniscalco, Prentiss said she received an email from a Hinsdalean reporter about the email in which Maniscalco asked to rescind his resignation. The reporter wanted to confirm that the board was planning to honor Maniscalco's request that week, Prentiss said.

"I am unclear why you believe it is an agenda item for this week. As I shared last Friday — the (school board) had a special meeting last week and approved your resignation," Prentiss wrote, adding Maniscalco's employment was not an agenda item for the upcoming board meeting.

A part of Prentiss' text was redacted by the district. It resumes with the words, "You should not be representing the district."

Maniscalco responded, "I'm not representing the district in any capacity."

Parts of Maniscalco's texts were also blacked out by the district.

It is unclear what led to the apparent rift. In the June 18 meeting, the district announced Maniscalco's resignation would be effective Sept. 15. Shortly after the meeting, the district released a statement with Prentiss' praise of Maniscalco. But without explanation, it said it would seek to fill Maniscalco's position on an interim basis while it conducted a formal search for a permanent replacement. An interim person was appointed last month.

An earlier public records request produced documents showing that Maniscalco was already away from his job for a few days before the June 18 meeting. He took one vacation day and then sick time for the rest of the month. Patch submitted a new request this week to determine how Maniscalco has been paid since the beginning of July.

Patch's records requests have yielded no agreement or understanding between the district and Maniscalco that governs his leave until mid-September. Such documents would fall under the state's open records law.

In an email in response to Patch questions Thursday, district spokesman Chris Jasculca said Maniscalco would remain under contract with the district until Sept. 15. Patch is seeking the agreement.

According to OpenTheBooks.com, Maniscalco's pay was $175,000 in 2018, the latest year available on the website. That pay was a $43,000 jump from three years earlier.

Maniscalco started as the district's chief human resources officer in 2013. Prentiss, an assistant superintendent for five years, was promoted to superintendent in May 2019.

The departure of Maniscalco is the second major personnel change during Prentiss' rein. In January, the school board voted unanimously to dismiss Carol Baker, assistant superintendent of academics, effective June 30. Board members did not give a reason for their decision.

A month before, Superintendent Tammy Prentiss apologized to the public for the administrative team's "ineffective job" in communicating changes to the district's science program. Baker was already in place when Prentiss took the helm.

Maniscalco has not returned messages for comment.

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

D-86 Official Away From Job When Resignation Accepted

Are D-86 Taxpayers Paying For 2 Human Resources Directors?