Plainfield Board Member 'Not Seeing Eye To Eye' With Former District

PLAINFIELD, IL — Just two years into a four-year contract, a newly elected District 202 Board of Education member is leaving his role as the superintendent of Lombard Elementary School District 44. Michael Robey, sworn in to the school board on May 1, will leave his job effective June 30. The school district called the move "amicable" but the board president on Tuesday said Robey and the district were "not seeing eye to eye on certain things."

Robey has four children who attend or have graduated from District 202 schools, and was elected to the District 202 school board on April 4. He joined incumbents Rod Westfall and David Koch, along with fellow newcomer/educator Robert Smith.

In Lombard, school board members on Tuesday approved a separation agreement for Robey, who will be paid through June 30, 2018 and whose salary this year was $206,150, according to the Daily Herald. Another employee who was hired at the same time as Robey, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Community Relations Aldo Calderin, is also leaving District 44.

District 44 board president Courtney Long told the Daily Herald their departures are "amicable" and not the result of any "fault or misconduct." She called the Robey and Calderin "great individuals" but on Tuesday said of Robey, "We're not seeing eye-to-eye on the future of the district." She wouldn't discuss specifics of the concerns the board had with Robey but said teachers have recently been attending school board meetings in large numbers, according to the Herald.

One teacher reportedly spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting to thank the district for "taking so seriously our concerns."

In an email to Patch on Tuesday, Robey said, "When you are Superintendent, you have to make many difficult decisions that you believe are in the best interest of your students. Not everyone will agree with those decisions. The fact that the Board of Education and I are parting ways amicably, speaks volumes about the character of everyone involved. I wish the entire school community continued success in the future."

Prior to his role as superintendent, Robey served as a public school teacher for 15 years and spent another 16 years as a school administrator. He is currently serving a four-year term on the Plainfield board of education.

Michael Robey/submitted candidate photo