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186 School Brd. Discusses Residency Requirement – Reappoints Leming

The Springfield school board continues to discuss a rule on the books that requires administrators to live within district 186 boundaries. Vice president Adam Lopez has adopted the cause, saying the policy should either be enforced, or removed from regulations. It’s his wish to enforce it. But board member Donna Moore questioned the need for the policy:

MOORE: Can I ask a question … I know we have this policy… but what purpose does it serve? Is this policy helping us to achieve the goals that we’re trying to achieve in the school district? Or does it hamper it?”

Lopez says he wants to have a timeline put together on enforcing a residency policy and a list of those in violation by August. Interim Superintendent Robert Leming says there were four district administrators in violation of the policy last school year. The board has yet to vote on whether to keep and/or rewrite the requirement.

The Springfield school board also voted last night to give interim superintendent Robert Leming another 100 day appointment, it will begin in July. Leming says this is the last time he plans on serving in that role. Leming says he’s confident the search for his replacement could be concluded and a new superintendent could take his place by the beginning of the calendar year: 

LEMING: “I think the best case scenario would be that they are able to complete the work by mid to late December in terms of the selection process, and if the candidate that the board prefers is available to start sooner than July ’14 then we would do that.”

Others have said it’s unlikely that role will be permanently filled by any time this coming school year. Leming will continue to be paid $650 per day.

Rachel Otwell of the Illinois Times is a former NPR Illinois reporter.
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