The District 233 school board gave administrators raises and approved a contract for the incoming Homewood-Flossmoor High School principal at its regular meeting Tuesday, Jan. 18.
The board approved a contract of $165,000 for Clinton Alexander, H-F’s next principal. His one-year contract starts July 1, although Alexander already has been visiting H-F and getting acquainted with staff. He is currently principal at Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills.
Hiring Alexander was the culmination of “a very extensive search process through BWP Associates (consultants) and little did we know that we didn’t have to go across the nation to find the candidate,” said Superintendent Von Mansfield. “We had a full evaluation (of Alexander) from our staff, community, students, board members and administrators.”
Superintendent-elect Scott Wakeley said he recognizes Alexander’s, “excitement and compassion for education and the work that needs to be done to continue the excellence that is Homewood-Flossmoor High School. I think he is absolutely the right person for the job, and we’ve already started our transition.”
The board also approved two-year contracts for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years for other administrators and announced two administrators will get new assignments.
Jodi Bryant, director of public relations and human resources, will be director of human resources earning $182,793 in 2024. A new director of public relations and community engagement will be hired. Superintendent Von Mansfield said the job change “has nothing to do with performance.” The change was suggested after a human resources auditor recommended the HR work have its own director. Wakeley said he sees the need for two separate positions.
Jennifer Rudan will serve in the newly created director of student supports at a salary of $133,900 in 2024. She currently is coordinator of the Multi-Tiered System of Support, an intervention program. She will continue working on MTSS and take on all work related to social/emotional standards, Wakeley said.
Two-year extended contracts with salaries in 2024 are: Lawrence Cook, chief school business official, will earn $160,000; Craig Fantin, associate principal of South Building operations will earn $141,250; Steve Richardson, director of information services will earn $137,917; Angela Taylor, director of special education, will earn $135,960.
The board also gave James Patterson, the new director of operations and maintenance, a one-year contract earning $121,800. He has been on staff since October filling the position previously held by Tom Wagner, who retired after serving the district for 43 years.
The administrators’ contracts were approved, but board members Pamela Jackson and Nate Legardy asked that in the future each contract be voted on separately.