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player ready...Northern Kane Educational Corp., the management firm of Cambridge Lakes Learning Center in Pingree Grove, has announced changes in leadership following months of controversy over questions related to finances, student vaccinations and an outside contract.
Effective immediately, Sylvia Polletta, former NKEC senior vice president/chief operating officer, will become the chief executive officer, according to Casey Kizior, NKEC director of communications.
Larry Cornett, currently the vice president of operations, will become the vice president of the charter school.
Marg Bogner will keep her position as treasurer while adding the title and role of chief financial officer.
Julie Mahaffey, NKEC chair, announced the executive realignment after former NKEC president and CEO Larry Fuhrer’s withdrew from all executive duties and daily operations of the charter school. He will return to the role he originally held as vice chairman/development with a related portfolio of duties.
Since August 2014, the Community Unit School District 300 board has been seeking answers from the Northern Kane Educational Corporation about management of Cambridge Lakes Charter School, which serves more than 800 students. Concerns involved special education, the English Language Learners program, the preschool, finances, vaccinations, and the school’s contract with Illinois Central College in East Peoria.
After a heated session of public comments during the June 14 and June 27 board meetings, Mahaffey met with the NKEC management team to discuss possible approaches to addressing public perception.
“A very vocal group of parents, along with current and former staff, expressed their belief that issues they have had at the school, along with the protracted charter renewal process, can be attributed to one person, Mr. Fuhrer,” Mahaffey said. “Once expressed in a public forum, these opinions become reality and we as a board need to take steps to address them. Northern Kane is fortunate to have an experienced management team that can adapt to these changes and seamlessly move into the new roles.”
The office of president is not expected to be filled until late fiscal year 2018.
Cornett, the newest member of the NKEC management team, came to the charter school in June 2015. For the previous seven years, he had been the CEO of the YMCA of Jefferson County in Mount Vernon, Ill. During the past year, he has worked to expand the role of volunteers on campus, master the safety program, smooth and systemize operations, and generally learn about the educational setting of the charter school’s campus, according to a release from NKEC.
“I am delighted to receive the vote of confidence of my peers in my new role,” Cornett said. “Our school administrative team has the experience and commitment to deepen the nine years of educational excellence. I am pleased to be working with each of them.”
“We intend to build upon what has already been accomplished, which is a successful preschool, charter school and a growing blended e-learning program,” said Polletta. “Mr. Fuhrer has given us an excellent blueprint to work from, and we are confident in the possibilities for the future.”
Over the next year, additional developments are expected in family/school engagement, school culture enrichment and board leadership, according to the release.
“We have taken the first step to addressing the concerns and opinions expressed,” Mahaffey said. “The board is hopeful that as a result, we can move forward to grow and improve. Only by management, staff and families working together can we achieve the goal of high achievement learning and success for the students at Cambridge Lakes Learning Center.”
The charter school serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade along with preschool students.
A renewal application for the charter school was submitted on July 1 to Community Unit School District 300. The District 300 board is expected to decide on the renewal application within 45 days of its submittal.
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.