Negotiations for a $65,658 tuition reimbursement for Valley View School District 365U Superintendent James Mitchem were settled in late 2010, Mitchem told Patch Thursday.
The reimbursement was a "verbal agreement across the table," he said.
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But the tuition reimbursemet was "inadvertently" left out of Mitchem's contract, officials said. The Valley View school board approved an amendment at Monday's board meeting to provide Mitchem with the reimbursement by Aug. 1.
School Board President Steven Quigley said the error in Mitchem's contract was brought to his attention in June and because of scheduling, the amendment just ended up on the July agenda.
"I feel like we're obligated to do it," Quigley said. "There is no hidden agenda."
Mitchem said he was aware of the negative feedback at Monday's meeting but hesitated to comment on school board action. Mitchem was on vacation and was unable to attend Monday's meeting.
Mitchem completed his doctorate degree on May 9, 2011, he said, and began his tenure as superintendent on July 1, 2011. Mitchem was previously principal of Bolingbrook High School.
School Board Member Leo Venegas confirmed the district sets aside $350,000 in its budget to reimburse higher education tuition for its teachers alone. The tuition reimbursement for Mitchem did not come from that pool of money.
The doctorate degree wasn't required for the superintendent position, Mitchem said. He completed the superintendent certificate required for the position before May.
Tension at the board meeting
School Board Member Elizabeth Campbell said she had received several e-mails regarding the matter, specifically questioning the move in light of Mitchem's statement that he would not accept additional money from the district until students' achievement improved.
Campbell recommended tabling a discussion, considering Mitchem was not present at the meeting to address the issue and answer questions raised by residents.
Campbell's motion to table the discussion received no support from her other school board members. "I still believe we should have had more discussion about this and he should have been present," Campbell said.
School Board Member Richard Gougis countered that it was an action taken by the school board, not Mitchem, and Mitchem did not need to explain the school board's actions.
"I don't understand why we need Mitchem to expain the action we're going to take," Gougis said.
School Board Member Elizabeth Campbell questioned the timing of the amendment.
"I need to know why at this particular time," Campbell said. "He's held the position since the beginning of the school year. Why are we doing this now?"
School Board Members Venegas, Quigley, Gougis and Ronnie Bull voted in favor of the contract amendment. Campbell abstained from voting. Board Members Jim Curran and Chrystal Hansen were absent from the meeting.
One woman addressed the board regarding the matter. Andrea Anderson, a parent and teacher for the district, thanked Campbell for attempting to table the discussion.
"It's a big discussion in our community," Anderson said. "It's more than my salary. Thank you for tabling something for our community."