Community High School District 128 Superintendent Denise Herrmann told a packed house of teachers, parents and students in Libertyville and Vernon Hills that she will “stand strong and resilient” despite critics loudly calling for her to be removed from her position.
Herrmann said in a three minute speech at the Community High School District 128 meeting at Vernon Hills High School Monday she has followed district policy, Illinois law and Illinois school code when making all decisions while serving as superintendent.
She added sometimes district leaders have to make decisions that are required but are not popular among parents and students.
“Doing the right thing and not the popular thing means sacrificing convenience or struggling emotionally, physically or mentally,” she told a packed house at the board meeting Monday. “Regardless … here’s a certainty, every leader faces a time when a line must be drawn. This is my line. I will stand by the unwavering values of integrity and equity.”
The contentious board meeting Monday came after 90 percent of the District 128 Federation of Teachers voted “no confidence” against Herrmann in May, officials said.
Union President Monica Caldicott said in a news release the vote against Herrmann reflects the superintendent’s poor mismanagement while serving as District 128 Superintendent for the previous three years.
In summary, she said the superintendent used taxpayer funds poorly, eliminated effective student support groups, shown an inability to set and follow through on district goals, created a chaotic and hostile work environment forcing key administrators to leave the district, repeatedly violated collective bargaining agreement between the district and union and has refused to communicate and collaborate honestly and transparently with teachers and union members.
“As educators committed to positive change and growth in our award-winning district, our members know that effective leadership is critical to student success,” Caldicott said in a news release. “During her nearly three-year tenure here, Dr. Denise Herrmann has repeatedly shown that she is incapable of leading our district at this important time.”
District 128 serves more than 3,200 students in Libertyville and Vernon Hills.
Marnie Navarro, who describes herself as a graduate, taxpayer and parent of a future student, said parents and taxpayers have a laundry list to prove Herrmann should be ousted from her position.
She said in a statement to the Lake & McHenry County Scanner that decisions made by Herrmann include a “track record of bad hires, extreme and reckless wasteful spending, and exposing District 128 to incredible liability by creating a toxic environment.”
Included among these decisions include a list of administrators and consultants Herrmann hired who cost the district hundreds of thousands of dollars over a three year span, Navarro said, and questionable spending on office and kitchen furniture.
“Herrmann spent $17k+ on her personal, custom office furniture and another $17k on furniture for the new kitchen for the sparsely attended admin building, all while LHS (Libertyville High School) is in grave need of serious, overdue repairs,” Navarro said. “The D128 Board of Education is elected to represent our students, parents and community and be responsible steward of our tax dollars, and to evaluate Supt. Herrmann and hold her accountable.”