District 204: Here's What New Supt. Mike Hanson Gets

JOLIET, IL - Cheryl McCarthy's tenure as superintendent of Joliet Township High School District 204 is almost over and many people around Joliet are looking forward to a change in leadership. McCarthy had spent entire education career in District 204, beginning in 1986 as a math teacher. Moving forward, Joliet Township's school board wanted the next superintendent to have prior experience in the position and have a well-rounded professional education background.

And that's why District 204 hired Charles "Mike" Hanson, who has worked in South Dakota as superintendent of the Hill City School District. The school district is within the Black Hills National Forest District and 12 miles from Mt. Rushmore.

When it comes bringing readers transparency and greater openness on how their tax dollars are being spent in Joliet and Will County, the Joliet Patch is the premier news organization to consistently report on such matters of public spending.

Keeping with that tradition, Joliet Patch recently obtained the multi-year contract for Hanson as part of a Freedom of Information Act request to District 204 officials.

Here are the key details:

How long is Mike Hanson's contract?

Hanson is guaranteed three years as District 204's superintendent. His contract begins July 1 and continues through June 30, 2022.

What will Hanson make?

Hanson's District 204 contract calls for a 2019-2020 salary of $210,000; this is far less than what Cheryl McCarthy made in recent years. Outgoing School Board President Jeff Pierson gave McCarthy several guaranteed 6 percent annual pay raises. These were extraordinary pay hikes and were first reported last year by the Joliet Patch. For her final on the job, McCarthy got a salary hike of $16,626.

Pierson and his District 204 School Board had arranged for McCarthy to get $61,067 in pay raises during the past four years, a move that helped increase her upcoming retirement pension.

For her final year with District 204, a district consisting of Joliet West and Joliet Central High Schools, Cheryl McCarthy was making a salary of $293,724,

What's one of the most lucrative perks within Hanson's contract?

In addition to his regular salary of $210,000, District 204 "shall make an annual non-elective contribution to the 403(b) annuity … of $11,500 payable as a one-time lump sum no later than July 15 of each contract year."

Are there any other lucrative perks contained in Hanson's three-year contract?

There are two other noteworthy ones, the details reveal. First, District 204's School Board "shall pick up and pay on the superintendent's behalf, the superintendent's entire required contribution to the Illinois Teachers' Retirement System."

Secondly, regarding the coverage of health insurance for Hanson, "the Board shall pick up and pay on behalf of the superintendent the superintendent's entire contribution to the Teachers' Health Insurance Security fund."

What about Hanson's vacation benefits?

Hanson gets four weeks (20 days) of annual vacation time in addition to any legal holidays, weekends or other holidays declared to District 204.

"Unused vacation days from one contract year may be carried over for use during the next contract year, but after that period of time shall be forfeited. At no time shall the superintendent ever have more than 40 (eight weeks) accumulated vacation days … Upon separation of employment, any and all unused vacation days shall be paid at the superintendent's then-current per diem."

What about moving costs?

District 204 has agreed to reimburse Hanson up to $10,000 to pay for his costs associated with moving his family from the Black Hills of South Dakota to the Joliet area. Hanson will be obligated to live within the boundaries of District 204.

What about transportation expenses?

Some municipalities and school districts provide lucrative automobile allowances or annual stipends to school superintendents and city managers as an extra perk, but not District 204. Hanson's contract states that "the board will reimburse the superintendent during the term of this contract for necessary business travel mileage outside of the school district boundaries at the then-applicable IRS reimbursement rate."

What about organizational membership fees?

District 204 agreed to foot the bill for all costs related to Hanson's membership in organizations such as, but not limited to, "American Association of School Administrators, and Illinois Association of School Administrators …"

What about Hanson's base salary, how long will he make $210,000?

That remains to be the seen. The wording in Hanson's contract regarding his $210,000 salary reads, "The Board retains the right to adjust the annual compensation salary and or fringe benefits of the Superintendent during the term of this contract and thereafter, provided that any compensation, salary, and or fringe benefits adjustments shall not be lower than the annual (amounts)… paid by the Board in the preceding contract year."