Schools

Liberty Jr. High Principal Benton Steps Down

New Lenox District 122 announced Wednesday that the junior high principal asked to be reassigned to a teaching position because of personal issues. A new principal will be appointed Dec. 15.

Liberty Junior High Principal Joel Benton has stepped down from his administrative role, District 122 officials announced Wednesday.

According to a letter sent to parents, Supt. Mike Sass and Associate Supt. Peggy Manville met with Benton on Monday and he requested to be reassigned because of "personal issues."

Assistant Principal Dawn Pechukas will continue in her position and serve as the main administrator at Liberty until the holiday break.

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"Although changing principals in the middle of the year is not an ideal situation for any school building, we are confident that Mrs. Pechukas and the Liberty teachers will continue to meet the needs of all of your children and assist in providing a seamless transition for your school," Sass said in the letter to parents.

The district will appoint a new principal by Dec. 15, and that person will officially start the job following the holiday break on Jan. 5. District spokeswoman Jenny Zimmerman said Sass and Manville will likely recommend a new principal to the school board for a vote, perhaps at next Wednesday's meeting.

Find out what's happening in New Lenoxwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Benton requested to be reassigned to a teaching position in the district, but Zimmerman said what he'll teach and at which school isn't determined yet. That likely won't happen until after March, when the district begins piecing together its personnel decisions for the following school year.

Zimmerman said Benton will work in the district office for the rest of the school year doing administrative work and will return to teaching next fall. Zimmerman didn't know the extent of his responsibilities at the time, but he will remain with the same pay for the rest of this year.

Next year, when he goes to teaching, Zimmerman said the pay scale would probably change but the salary would depend on how many years he's taught, his education and other factors.

Benton made $120,347 in 2010, according to the State Board of Education. He has 23 years of experience and a master's degree. Pechukas made $88,334 in 2010.


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