U46 planning to fill vacancy on board

ELGIN -- After Elgin School District U46 Board member Daniel Rich resigned Monday night, it's a tossup on who will replace him.

"The board of education has not really had a chance to digest this," said Pat Broncato, U46 chief legal officer. "And they really don't have anyone in mind at this point" to replace Rich.

Rich resigned Monday night, citing what he considered outrageous salary demands from U46 Superintendent Connie Neale and a generous response by the U46 board.

Regardless, Broncato said Rich's resignation is not official until he submits "a written letter of resignation." Broncato said after he receives the letter, he can proceed by "informing the Kane County Office of Education that there's a vacancy and then the school board has 45 days to fill the vacancy."

Even so, the district is looking to fill the open spot, said Broncato.

"We would certainly attempt to fill that position," said Broncato, who admitted the position would be short-lived due to the upcoming school board election on April 17.

"The term would expire when we would seat the new board member, which would be on May 14, 2007," said Broncato. "So the (appointed member) would only be there about a month or two, and that becomes the issue."