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Less than two weeks after Superintendent Kevin Nohelty announced his abrupt retirement, the Dolton West Elementary District 148 board approved a contract for his interim replacement Tuesday.
Sheila Harrison-Williams will be paid $1,500 a day for up to 120 days, according to board President Shalonda Randle. Students returned to District 148’s 10 early childhood, elementary and junior high schools last week.
Harrison-Williams said despite the district making headlines for Nohelty’s $450,000 salary, which the board voted in March to increase by $30,000 over each of the following two years, district community members have welcomed her with open arms.
“I watch TV and I hear things,” Harrison-Williams said about the district’s reputation. “I saw the opportunity to do what’s right for kids and make sure they have a fighting chance.”
Randle said has seen Harrison-Williams make a positive impact at other struggling districts. Harrison-Williams was superintendent of Hazel Crest District 152.5 for 18 years and received the National Alliance of Black School Educators Superintendent of the Year award.
“When you hear of people doing great things in the area, you think of those people when you need that support and help,” Randle said.
In his retirement letter dated Aug. 14, Nohelty blamed board members, including Randle, for making his job difficult and targeting him with “harassment and bullying.” He said he chose to retire after Randle declined his offer to buy out his contract.
“The board president and certain board members have undertaken a smear campaign against me, riddled with baseless allegations, innuendo, and repeated threats of investigation and discharge,” the letter said.
Nohelty said at one point a board member said his being a white man in a majority Black district as a reason he had to leave.
Randle said the district has not started its search for a permanent superintendent but said she plans to hire someone at a “reasonable salary” comparable to those paid by neighboring districts.
When the board voted to increase Nohelty’s salary, Randle said she was not included in discussions about the terms of the approved contract. Other board members said they voted to boost Nohelty’s salary because the former superintendent stayed on past his previous contract’s June 2022 end date while the board searched for his replacement.
“This was not something premeditated, preplanned or orchestrated for money purposes,” board member Larry Lawrence said at the time. Under the new contract, Nohelty was required to mentor his selected successor for one year as they got acclimated to the district’s top job.
Randle said the board plans a special meeting on Sept. 3 at its administrative office, 114 W. 144th St., Riverdale. More information will become available on the district’s website.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
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Olivia Stevens
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