Dave Palzet has brought out-of-the-box thinking to Pleasantdale Elementary District 107 in his first 1 1/2 years, including spearheading a carpool karaoke video to kick off the school year and eating school cafeteria lunches for a month to get a sense of what students are being served.
District officials want Palzet’s creativity and accomplishments to continue and have rewarded their superintendent with a new four-year deal. The board also hired a new principal for Pleasantdale Elementary School.
“In the past year and a half, Dave has done a fantastic job,” board President Mark Mirabile said. “The contract extension, from the board of education’s standpoint, shows our confidence in Dave and the path he is on.”
Mirabile pointed to Palzet’s implementation of a five-year strategic plan for the district and creation of a 1:1 technology program as just a few of the superintendent’s achievements.
“I’ve been here more than 14 years,” Mirabile said. “The former superintendent took us to new levels and Dave has catapulted us from there.”
Palzet, whose current contract was to expire in June 2018, had his contract extended through the 2021-22 school year.
The new contract ties Palzet’s annual salary increases to the consumer price index, with a floor of no less than 2 percent and a ceiling of no more than 4 percent. In addition, during each contract year, Palzet has the opportunity for a bonus upon reaching specified goals approved by the school board each August.
Palzet received a 0.7 percent salary bump this school year, staying with a CPI increase, after starting with the district in 2015-16 at a base salary of $175,000.
Mirabile said the board is maintaining its fiscally conservative approach in linking Palzet’s annual increases to the CPI.
“We are staying within our means. We can find ourselves in a situation with state funding,” Mirabile said of the uncertainty districts face regarding state dollars. “However, we can continue to reward our superintendent for going above and beyond with bonuses.”
Mirabile said the bonus criteria will be set by the board before each school year.
“It can be anything and everything,” Mirabile said. “It will be linked to schools’ ability to have each child gain in annual knowledge. It will be linked to student performance individually and collectively.”
Palzet said his 2 to 4 percent contract increases are in line with the district’s fiscal philosophy.
“We have a fiscally responsible and conservative board,” Palzet said. “As a district, we are living within our means. Having the raises tied to CPI makes sense. We are not going to have 6, 8 or 10 percent raises. To me, that is fair.”
The superintendent said he was humbled and honored to get the extension.
“We have had such a great 1 1/2 years. I am excited to continue the work we started,” Palzet said.
He said having an ongoing dialogue with the board has been helpful for him because the continual conversation helps him know what is working and what is not working
He said improving technology in the district has taken great teachers and made them better.
The superintendent said a big part of getting so much accomplished in a short time is the backing of the school board.
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“We have a very cohesive board. Pretty much votes are all 7-0 on things needed to improve the district,” Palzet said. “We are able to come together, coalesce to do good things for the kids.”
The district also recently announced the hiring of, Kathleen Tomei, principal at Lincoln Elementary School in Elmhurst, as the new principal at Pleasantdale Elementary School. Tomei will replace Matt Vandercar who is retiring in June. Her salary is $121,000.
Tomei was chosen from 45 candidates who applied for the position.
“I am proud of the process that we implemented to find the best leader for Pleasantdale Elementary School,” Palzet said. “By including parents, staff and administration in the process, we made sure that all groups had a stake in the selection of our new principal. Kathleen brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our school and will surely be able to bring our school from great to greater.”
Tomei has spent nearly six years in Elmhurst Unit District 205.
“I chose Pleasantdale due to the small size of the district and strong sense of community at every level,” Tomei said. “The schools are supported by a strong administrative team which I am honored to join, an involved parent community that values education, and dedicated teachers who focus on the needs of their students by keeping instruction at the forefront of their work.”
Kevin Beese is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press