Retired Porto Signs One-Year Mentoring Contract

Over the objections of one resident, the Avoca School District unanimously agreed to start a one-year mentoring services contract for its recently retired superintendent, Joseph Porto.

Avoca President Jeffrey Greengoss said District 37, which right now is operating with an nearly $50,000 budget deficit, would be well served in having Porto provide mentoring services for Kevin Jauch, who is assuming his first stint as a district superintendent.

“It’s a contract that our board felt very strongly on to insure a successful transition of our old to new superintendent,” Greengoss said. “ We’re feeling very comfortable with it to continue our high level of education.”

Earlier:

Jauch will receive an annual salary of $185,000 in his new role as head of District 37. He made $142,798  last year as principal at Avoca West, a role he had for five years. Before that, he was a principal in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Porto’s final salary was $251,926 before he decided to step down after a nine-year run as superintendent.

In an interview with Patch earlier this year, Porto said the transition to Jauch would not be a major challenge.

“We've put a lot of thought into it, it's very carefully devised and we're just absolutely certain it's going to lead to a seamless transition,” Porto said at the time.

Greengoss said the mentoring agreement would be capped at $5,900--even though the contract has $6,000 written down--and would run until June. Jauch will have the ability to contact Porto, who in that same Patch interview said that he would start a consulting business, to get his feedback on issues facing the district. Furthermore, Greengoss added that mentoring had been recommended by Illinois officials.

When the measure came up before the board, it went through as a straightforward vote with no discussion by board members.

Resident Charlotte Aines said she found the mentoring contract to be deeply offensive.

“The superintendents at school districts 10 times the size of this district don’t get compensated this well,” Aines said. “If the current superintendent can’t do the job without a coach, why is the district compensating him so well?”

In addressing her concerns about the district's finances, Aines added, “Where is the fiscal responsibility that many of you tout in your online bios?”

Stay tuned to Patch for more on Avoca District 37's upcoming budget.