David Kinney, who retired after the 2008-09 academic year as superintendent of Illinois Valley Central School District 321, will begin the 2010-11 academic year as interim comptroller/treasurer of Peoria District 150.
Kinney’s appointment was approved unanimously Aug. 16 at a special meeting of the District 150 board.
Kinney will assume the duties of Pam Schau, who was fired last week after serving 14 months as District
150’s chief financial officer.
“He already knew what was happening in reference to our finances, and knew some of the challenges that we’re facing here in the district,” Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “He can just step in and get things moving.”
Kinney was recommended last week by Gerald Brookhart, superintendent of the Peoria County Regional Office of Education.
Lathan said three other possibilities from “within the state” were considered for the position for which Kinney will be paid $450 per day for perhaps as many as 120 work days.
“I hadn’t thought a lot about (coming out of retirement),” Kinney said. “But I have a desire to try to be helpful. This was something that came up and I think there’s certainly possibilities there.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
The initial challenge was finalizing by Aug. 20 a tentative budget for the 2010-11 academic year that begins Aug. 31 for District 150 schools.
“I can tell you there’s some very good people working on it already,” Kinney said. “My role will be hopefully to ask the right questions and make sure that we get the budget as complete as possible.”
The tentative budget will be presented to the board at its regularly scheduled meeting tonight.
The actual budget is scheduled to be voted on Sept. 27, three days before the state’s Sept. 30 deadline.
Lathan said the search for a permanent comptroller/treasurer has not yet started. The last two to occupy the position - Guy Cahill and Schau - were dismissed.
“We’re going to continue to do what’s in the best interest of children,” said Lathan, who took over as superintendent May 1.
Kinney, who spent 36 years in the IVC school district before taking a year off, said he hasn’t entertained thoughts about seeking the position full-time.
“That’s something I’ll think about later,” Kinney said. “The first job is getting that budget done.”
