The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By David Grimes, Quill Correspondent
Southern superintendent Charlie Barber will assume a new post as superintendent of Harrison School, a pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade, 500-student elementary school at Wonder Lake, July 1.
The school is located in McHenry County, 12 miles south of the Wisconsin border.
Barber, who has served as chief administrator at Southern for seven years, did not receive a vote of confidence by the district's school board and subsequently was not offered a contract extension during a special meeting Jan. 29.
Both board president Jon Corzatt and vice president Doug Brooks declined to give specifics on the reason for the board's 5-2 vote not to retain Barber.
Corzatt did say different views were held by Barber and the board as to what direction to take regarding the future of the district.
Barber, who said he requested that his $75,000 salary plus benefits remain frozen four years ago, said he doesn't understand that explanation.
Barber said he always has stressed to the board that he is their employee and has been willing to follow whatever direction they gave him.
"I believe they can succeed whatever they pursue as a future goal," he said. "I think they can make consolidation work, they can make convergence work, they can remain alone and make it work - for a while."
A united front in pursuing any goal can end in success, Barber added.
But a difference in directional viewpoints has never been an issue, he said. In fact, he said, since he has never offered an opinion to the board, he's hard pressed to imagine what differences would exist.
"I've told those guys I'm willing to do whatever they tell me to do," Barber said.
Barber said that two years ago he told the school board if his remaining as superintendent was causing a problem with district finances, he was willing to leave of his own volition.
He believes, he said, his departure will provide an opportunity for Southern to hire a superintendent at a lesser salary and in turn provide savings for the district as it decides what it wants for its future.
In March, Barber was tabbed as superintendent at Harrison and offered a 5-year contract that will see him into retirement.
"It's an industrial area," Barber said, adding that administrative salaries tend to improve in the northern part of the state. School official salaries in west-central Illinois have a history of being lower compared to other areas of the state. Terms of his contract call for Barber to receive $99,500 in 2004-05; $103,000 in 2005-06; $106,500 in 2006-07; and $107,000 in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Barber's benefits package includes full benefits for him and his daughter for the first year, and coverage for Barber only for the remainder of his contract to be paid by the school. Barber is burning no bridges as he prepares to leave Southern.
"It's been a great place to work," he said. "I like everybody I've worked with here. I've always had a great bunch of board members."
Barber served as an administrator with the Aledo, school district prior to coming to Southern.