Wanted: Sixth finance director in three years at D46 ? Grayslake ...

For the sixth time in three years, Grayslake Elementary District 46 is looking for a new finance director. Todd Covault, who just started that job in July, is leaving to accept a position with a school district in Decatur.

?I am really enjoying my work here and am disheartened that I can?t be in both places,? Covault said in an e-mail. ?The level of responsibility in this assignment was one that I was unable to turn down.?

Covault starts on Oct. 3 in Decatur Public School District 61, which will pay him a $147,000 salary, compared to the $120,000 he?d signed on for in District 46.

Decatur voters recently approved a construction referendum, and Covault said he specializes managing such renovations. Covault said he planned to formally tender his resignation at the Sept. 21 board meeting.

News of Covault?s departure caught District 46 officials off guard, Superintendent Ellen Correll said.

?Todd is excellent, and I am very disappointed that he will be leaving,? Correll said in an e-mail. ?As for the type of candidate that we would be looking for? A clone of Todd.?

Couvalt replaced David Tylavsky, who served nine months. Before that, Edward Towle was fired before he started. After hiring Towle, officials learned he had been on an extended paid leave from his previous school district, in Brown Deer, Wis.

Two business managers before that left after short tenures to work for other school districts.

Correll cites several reason for the high turnover. She said one left because the job at District 46 was a 90-minute to two-hour commute. Another left to accept a position with a higher salary. Two others served as interim administrators.

Covault said the Board of Education and superintendent have ensured that District 46 is in better condition than most Illinois school districts. He also praised the staff.

?The business office has done a tremendous job of keeping the business of the district functioning during the unfortunate turnover of the business office leadership,? Covault said.

Covault said he had applied for the position in Decatur before he was hired in District 46. He has a prior professional association with the superintendent there, Gloria Davis. When they were school administrators in Kansas, the two served with an organization that successfully sued the state on fair school funding issues.

?Unlike District 46?s ? balanced budget for fiscal year 2012, Decatur is facing a deficit budget of $7 million,? Covault said. ?I guess you might say that this assignment was a calling.?

Before coming to District 46, Covault was director of business affairs and human resources for Prairie-Hills Elementary District 144 in Markham.

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Source: http://triblocal.com/grayslake/2011/09/19/wanted-sixth-finance-director-in-three-years-at-d46/

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