Sunday Was Last Day For Ex-Hinsdale D86 Leader

HINSDALE, IL – Sunday marked the last day for former Hinsdale High School District 86 Superintendent Tammy Prentiss as a "licensed District employee."

According to her severance agreement from last June, Prentiss, who was the superintendent for four years, was supposed to receive her entire annual salary of $277,470 and health insurance over the last 10 months.

The pact stated Prentiss would be a licensed employee through March 31.

The severance agreement stated that Prentiss "shall be reasonably available with appropriate notice to perform administrative duties" in consultation with the school board's president.

So how much work did the district get in return for the more than quarter million dollars?

None that was documented.

After each quarter, Patch submitted a public records request for any documents showing that Prentiss did work for the district. Each time, the district said it had nothing.

The only possibility that Prentiss did anything is if officials consulted with her face to face or by phone.

The board never explained why it wanted to make sure Prentiss was available to do work for the district through March. Often, the public becomes frustrated when officials get big severance packages while doing nothing.

Last May, a new school board majority unhappy with Prentiss took control. Less than two weeks later, members decided in a closed meeting to suspend Prentiss and choose an interim superintendent. (The state Open Meetings Act requires that board votes be taken in public.)

On Thursday, Patch left an emailed message for comment with board President Catherine Greenspon. She has not answered Patch's messages since taking office.

Prentiss' LinkedIn page lists her as full-time with Court Appointed Special Advocates in Kane County, or CASA, for the last year. The group supports abused and neglected children.