District 230 Board extends Supt. Gay’s term

High School District 230 Superintendent Dr. James Gay has been given a contract extension through the 2020-21 school year.

Dr. Gay’s extended contract continues the compensation formula that has been in the superintendent’s contract. This includes an annual salary increase equal to the Consumer Price Index plus 1 percent with a floor of 3.25 percent and ceiling of 4.7 percent.

For 2016-17, the increase will be 3.25 percent, bringing Gay’s annual salary to $215,242.

The District 230 School Board revealed the decision following an executive session after the monthly board meeting last Thursday. The issue, like all personnel decisions, was not discussed during the public meeting.

School Board President Richard Nogal said in a statement released Friday that the contract extension is a vote of confidence in Gay’s leadership of the district, which includes three high schools, Stagg in Palos Hills, Sandburg in Orland Park and Andrew in Tinley Park.

“Dr. Gay fulfilled​ the goals set by the school board to provide a rigorous education and the social-emotional skills students need to be successful in life,” said Nogal. “He continues to be a strong advocate for our community by tackling the tough issues such as school funding reform and other legislative topics in Springfield. He is a respected educational leader both locally and across the state of Illinois. We look forward to continuing to work with him to provide the exceptional education our students deserve and our community expects, while remaining fiscally responsible to our taxpayers.”

Gay said during the meeting that he and board members Sue Dalton and Denis Ryan planned to head back to Springfield this week to discuss the importance of funding K-12 education with local legislators.

Gay joined District 230 in 2000 when he was hired as an associate principal at Andrew High School. He went on to become the school’s principal and then was the district’s deputy superintendent until 2007, when he assumed his current role.

Also last Thursday, the school board voted unanimously to rename the swimming pool at Sandburg the Jane Caliendo Aquatics Center. An official naming ceremony is being planned for the fall.

          Caliendo, an Orland Park resident for most of her life, was a1986 graduate of Sandburg who returned as a physical education teacher and girls’ swimming, diving and water polo coach after earning a degree from the University of Illinois. She died at age 46 on Oct. 4, 2014, after a battle with cancer that earned her the nickname “Warrior Jane.”

          Her husband, James Caliendo, is a PE teacher at Sandburg.

          Over her 20-year coaching career at Sandburg, her swim teams earned 13 conference titles and 15 sectional titles, including 10 in a row from 2003 to 2013.

She also coached 40 All-American and All-Stare swimmers, and was named sectional coach of the year five times.

Her water-polo teams racked up a 435-195 win-loss record, as well as seven conference titles, a sectional title, one Elite 8 finish and 12 all-state players.

          “Jane’s impact is far and wide,. I know this will mean a lot to our entire community and to recent graduates,” said Sandburg Principal Deborah Baker.

          “Besides her athletic prowess, she impacted people on a personal level. She would actually follow kids competing for other schools and send them notes of encouragement,” said Baker.