The Mahomet-Seymour Board of Education approved a four-year contract for Superintendent Dr. Kenneth (Kenny) Lee, who will replace Lindsey Hall full-time beginning July 1, 2022.
Lee’s contract extends to 2026 with a first-year base salary of $210,000. The salary in subsequent years will be determined by the board of education. The superintendent, who is currently compensated at a base salary of $195,590 in the sixth-year of his contract with Minooka Community High School District #111, will receive the highest first-year compensation of any previous Mahomet-Seymour superintendent.
Hall began in 2017 with a base salary of $187,960. Currently she receives $214,404 per year. Hall has received an approximate 2.8-percent salary increase annually. She will retire on June 30, 2022.
Comparatively, Champaign Unit #4 hired superintendent Shelia Boozer with a base salary of $212,000 in her first year of a three-year contract; Urbana District 116 School Board hired Jennifer Ivory-Tatum at $205,000 for her first year in 2019; and Morton CUSD #709 Superintendent Jeffery Hill made $190,763.00 in his fourth year in FY 2021.
The board will also pay all required contributions to the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) in the form of an employer paid pension; contribution to the Teacher Health Insurance Security Fund; medical insurance; all premiums associated with $200,000.00 of term life insurance; $6,500.00 per year to a tax-deferred annuity program selected by the Superintendent; membership dues in the Illinois Association of School Administrators; the American Association of School Administrators, the Illinois Association of School Business Officials, and any other professional or local civic organizations to be agreed upon by the parties; and provide up to $5,000 in relocation funds. Lee is required to relocate in the Mahomet-Seymour School District by December 31, 2022.
He will also receive reimbursement for mileage expenses incurred by the Superintendent while using the Superintendent’s personal vehicle for the conduct of approved District business and $100.00 per month for his personal cell phone in connection with the performance of his job duties.
Within the performance-based contract, Lee will be required to “(1) evaluate the assessment results of standardized tests given by the District and the State and annually present recommendations to the Board for the improvement of such results; (2) evaluate the District’s curriculum and annually make recommendations to the Board to ensure that the District’s curriculum is aligned to the appropriate standards as required by the Illinois State Board of Education; (3) evaluate student attendance and drop-out rates and annually recommend to the Board a plan to improve student attendance and graduation rates; (4) direct the evaluation of textbooks and other instructional materials to ensure that all materials are up to date and appropriate; and (5) evaluate the District technology plan and annually recommend improvements thereto to the Board.”
He will also be responsible for working with the board to “ establish such additional student performance and academic improvement goals including the indicators of student performance and academic improvement determined to measure such goals as the parties deem necessary for the then current school year” by October of each subsequent year.
By March 1 of each year the board is required, by contract, to evaluate the Superintendent.
Lee is given 20 vacation days each 12 months, five of which can be carried over. He will also receive the same number of sick, leave or personal leave days as other licensed staff of the District.
Additionally, beginning March 22, 2022, Lee will receive $400 for a maximum of seven full work days during the transition period, as he uses vacation days with his current employer in order to fulfill the responsibilities such as “consulting with the current Superintendent and administration, union leadership, and other personnel, and reviewing such documents and other records as he deems necessary to learn about the District and prepare for his assumption of duties as Superintendent.”
He will also receive mileage reimbursement each day he travels to the Mahomet-Seymour School District.
Mahomet-Seymour Board member Max McComb said the seven members had the opportunity to talk to people from different parts of the state, “and everyone who has come across Dr. Lee has nothing but tremendous things to say about him.”
While addressing the board, Lee said that “he appreciates this opportunity.
“I have been really taken aback by the text messages and phone calls and emails that I have received since this announcement came out. Coupled with those announcements of welcome, let us know if you need anything, has also been this is a great community to live in, and this is a great place for kids to go to school.
“I’m committed to this position for years to come, and I’m committed to collaborating with all of our stakeholders to continue its improvement.”
