The Mysterious Exit Of La Grange Highlands Superintendent

LA GRANGE HIGHLANDS, IL — The superintendent of La Grange Highlands School District 106 left in December under the terms of a separation agreement. The circumstances of her departure remain largely a mystery.

At the school board's Dec. 23 meeting, members approved a separation agreement with Amy Warke, who started as superintendent in July 2019.

Warke was absent from three board meetings in a row in November and December. The last time she appeared at a board meeting was Nov. 17, according to meeting minutes. These absences happened during a time of heightened scrutiny for school districts as they navigated the pandemic.

Patch obtained the separation agreement through a public records request. It took the district two weeks to provide the document.

Under the terms of the agreement, district officials are limited in what they can say about Warke's departure. Under an agreed-upon statement, the district praised her service, but said "philosophical differences have arisen which have resulted in this agreement."

According to the agreement, Warke, who makes $179,000 a year, was allowed to take vacation time from Dec. 21 to Jan. 29. From Feb. 1 to Feb. 23, she is on paid leave of absence, continuing to make her full salary.

Warke is also set to receive a severance payment of $12,400 in mid-March.

Under the agreement, each side is barred from disparaging or suing the other. The district further promised it would not contest any unemployment claim by Warke.

The agreement also includes a reference letter for Warke's potential employers. In the letter, the board president credits Warke for working collaboratively with the teachers union to finish contract negotiations. It also said she helped lead the purchase of property for a potential district expansion because of increasing enrollment.

After Warke left, Steve Griesbach, who retired as superintendent from another district, was named the interim superintendent for La Grange Highlands. Griesbach was most recently the superintendent of Gower School District 62 from 2005 to 2013, according to his LinkedIn page.

La Grange Highlands was Warke's first superintendent job. She was previously the chief academic and accountability officer for Oak Park Elementary District 97.

Warke could not be reached for comment.

La Grange Highlands School District 106 has an enrollment of more than 900 students, with 4 percent considered low-income, according to the Illinois Report Card. The school has about 70 teachers.