By Cynthia Strohschein and Erica Jacobson
STAFF WRITERS
Joe Chiusolo, Indian Prairie School District 204's
assistant superintendent for personnel, submitted his letter
of resignation to district officials this week.
Superintendent Gail McKinzie said an e-mail announcing
the resignation was sent to staff members at about 11:30
a.m. Wednesday. McKinzie would not comment on
whether Chiusolo was asked to leave and would only say
that she had received a resignation letter.
Chiusolo had been on leave, but district staff and board
members would not confirm when his leave began or why
Chiusolo originally requested a leave of absence.
Attempts to reach Chiusolo for comment were
unsuccessful.
In the letter, McKinzie said Chiusolo indicated he wanted
to pursue other educational opportunities.
The resignation is effective June 30, and Chiusolo asked
to use accrued vacation time through the end of the school
year. Effective immediately, Nancy Pedersen, assistant
director for special education, will be filling in as director
of human resources.
District 204 School Board member Ken Brissa said it is
not unusual for longtime employees like Chiusolo to
request use of accrued vacation time.
Mark Metzger, District 204 School Board president, said
Chiusolo stated in his letter that he was proud to have
worked in the district for so many years. According to
Metzger, Chiusolo wrote that he was going to pursue other
jobs in education, including district superintendent or
professor.
"I think that it's generally a very positive letter,"
Metzger
said.
Chiusolo came to the district in 1971, teaching science
at
elementary and junior high levels. He later became an
administrative assistant at Wheatland Elementary School
and Granger Middle School. Chiusolo was appointed
assistant principal at Hill Middle School in 1981 and
became principal at Hill in 1986.
Promoted to director of support services for the district
in
1987, Chiusolo administered the district's student
transportation program and the food service program for
middle schools and Waubonsie Valley High School. He
also supervised the district's building operations and
maintenance programs.
Chiusolo was appointed assistant superintendent for
personnel in November 1990, replacing Charles F. Pagels,
who left for an administrative post in North Carolina.
For the past two years,Chiusolo has taught a course in
school law as an adjunct professor at Aurora University.
Copley News Service writer Mike Cetera contributed to
this report.
02/24/1999
