Downstate District Hires Former D159 Head Karen Perry

Former Superintendent Karen Perry, , has a new job lined up—superintendent of Oakwood CUSD 76 in downstate Fithian, Ill.

The Oakwood 76 school board unanimously approved Perry's hiring during their board meeting Monday night, the Danville Commercial-News reported.

"Mrs. Perry emerged as the front-runner from a group of superb and highly qualified finalists for the position," Oakwood 76 board President Greg Wolfe said in an article in the Commercial-News. "Her intelligence, experience, personal warmth, her focus on all students and her collaborative approach makes her ideal for our school district and community."

Perry will replace outgoing Superintendent Keven Forney in the summer, at the same time her contract with Mokena 159 expires.

Perry wrote the Mokena 159 school board on July 21 saying she planned not to return to the district for the 2012-2013 school year. She started with the district July 1, 2009, with a contract running through June 30, 2012.

Her time at Mokena 159 was controversial, with . Under Perry, the district tried for . Each failed.

Perry's salary at Oakwood 76 will be $110,000. This is a drop from the $140,728.51 Mokena 159 paid her for the 2009-10 school year, according to the Illinois State Board of Education’s Teacher Service Record.

Although Perry went from D159 superintendent to the specially created position of assistant to the superintendent, her contract kept her pay at the superintendent level.

Phone messages left with six of the seven members of the Oakwood 76 school board on Monday night were not returned. The seventh member declined to comment.

This story will be updated as it develops.