Did Hinsdale D-86 Official Enter Severance Pact?

HINSDALE, IL – The resignation letter from Brad Verthein, a top official at Hinsdale High School District 86, was unusual.

It was undated. It included no personal sentiments. It appeared to be written by a lawyer – and probably was.

Unlike your typical resignation letter, it included not only a space for Verthein's signature, but also for the school board president.

This adds to the mystery of the departure of Verthein, who is in charge of student services. He is taking a job in Batavia School District 101 for $130,000, more than $30,000 less than what he makes in District 86.

The "letter of resignation" has all the appearances of a severance agreement. If that is the case, it would mean the parting of ways may not have been happy, despite public statements to the contrary.

Verthein received no severance pay. But the agreement, which the school board approved last week, waived the requirement that Verthein pay the district $10,000.

Under his employment contract, Verthein must pay that amount if he gives notice of his resignation less than three months beforehand. He is taking his new job July 1; the district appears to have received notice at some point in April, which would have been less than three months.

The resignation document reflects language about severance and settlement agreements in the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act, to which the letter refers.

It gives Verthein 21 days to consider the resignation agreement and seven days following his signature to revoke it. These are all rights under the discrimination law.

Patch obtained the agreement through a public records request. The district declined to provide it without one.

Unlike most entities, the district maintains a public online log for its records requests. While it listed Patch's request, it did not include the actual document for the public to see.

In a statement two weeks ago, Superintendent Tammy Prentiss praised Verthein.

"I want to thank Brad Verthein for his dedicated service on behalf of our district and community during the past eight years," she said. "He has been a trusted and valued member of our team whose hard work and passionate commitment to education have had a positive impact on our schools and students."

Said Verthein, "(T)here are many things I will miss about District 86. One of the biggest is being part of an outstanding team of educators, support staff and parents/guardians who work closely and collaboratively with each other to meet the needs of our students."

In 2020, Prentiss praised then-Chief Human Resources Officer Domenico Maniscalco when he resigned. Through records requests, Patch found Maniscalco left unhappily.