4/15/2009 4:00:00 PM Email this article • Print this article
David Bonnette
High school hires 'administrative leadership'
Consultant likely frontrunner for interim postiion
By BOB SKOLNIK
Contributing Reporter
In their last regularly scheduled meeting before three newly elected members are seated next month, members of the Riverside Brookfield High School District 208 school board voted unanimously Tuesday night to hire former District 96 superintendent David Bonnette as a consultant.
Bonnette, 68, will work on an as needed basis until June 30.
It was not made clear exactly what Bonnette's job responsibilities would be, nor was it explained how Bonnette and current Superintendent/Principal Jack Baldermann are to work together. Baldermann has resigned his position and will be leaving RB on June 30.
"We have immediate needs that need to be addressed regarding the administrative leadership of District 208," said board member Jim Marciniak, who introduced the resolution.
The group is also strongly recommending that the new board hire Bonnette as the interim superintendent for the 2009-2010 school year.
The motion was made and approved just moments after Dan Moon, one of three candidates elected in last week's election, asked the board to hold off on making any substantive decisions until the new members are seated.
Matt Sinde, who was elected along with Moon and Mike Welch, said Wednesday that he was happy that the board hired Bonnette only as a consultant.
"He is a consultant," Sinde said. "He is not the interim, so that gives us freedom to talk and interview with him. It gives us the freedom to outline what we want in the qualities of an interim superintendent."
Bonnette served for 13 years as the superintendent of Riverside Elementary District 96 before retiring in 2005. Since then he has taught educational leadership at Northeastern Illinois University and served as an interim superintendent in River Forest District 90 during the 2007-2008 school year.
"I am excited about the opportunity to again service the RB community, staff and students and to work cooperatively with all the district's constituents and certainly with the board," Bonnette said Wednesday.
Bonnette was a popular leader at District 96.
"This man will be a tremendous asset especially at this time in this district," said board member Bill McCloskey speaking at his last board meeting. McCloskey is leaving the board after one term. He did not run for re-election.
It appears that the board initially intended to hire Bonnette as an interim superintendent. A full contract for the interim superintendent position was presented to the board. However, a written statement from Sinde, Welch and Moon asked the board to defer such an important hire until the new board members are seated.
Bonnette will be paid at a rate of $50 an hour until June 30.