D161 Board Hires New Finance, Special Ed. Directors

has new finance and special education directors as the board of education hired two veteran administrators from Plainfield's school district during Wednesday's meeting at .

Susan Krautstrunk was hired as director of finance and transportation, taking over for Dean Gerdes, who is resigning from the post at the end of June. Bridget Nolan follows Julie Egan as the district's special education director. In March, Egan agreed to be the new supervisor for Lincoln-Way Area Special Education District 843. Krautstrunk and Nolan begin work July 1.

Susan Krautstrunk

Current position: Director of finance, Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202, since 2010
Background: Krautstrunk has been working in educational finance since 1992. She was the senior accountant in School District U-46 in Elgin (2006-10); financial assistant in District 300 in Carpentersville (2005-06); and associate director of finance, accountant and Medicaid program coordinator for the Special Education District of McHenry County (1992-05). 
What attracted her to D161? Krautstrunk looks forward to the broader range of work at Summit Hill, letting her "touch more things" on the financial side of things.

Bridget Nolan

Current position: Special education administrator, Plainfield District 202, since 2008.
Background: Nolan has worked in D202 for 10 years. In her time there, she's worked as the director of extended school and (2006-present) and assistive technology specialist (2002-08). Nolan also was a special needs teacher in Kirby School District 140 (1999-2002).
What attracted her to D161? "I liked the opportunity of really being involved with the education of students with special needs," Nolan said, adding that working in the Summit Hill school district is a bit of a homecoming having taught in Tinley Park.

LIVE BLOGS: Check Out Our Section for Transcripts of Past D161 Live Blogs of Board Meetings

In other business, the board approved a new three-year contract with Johnson Controls to handle the district's air-conditioning and heating by a 5-1 vote. The district will pay $97,700 in the first year, with 3-percent increases each additional year.

. Overall, the contract is $40,000 less per year than district's previous contract, Gerdes said in an interview after the meeting.

The district did not seek other bids, Gerdes said, citing the district's good 20-year working relationship with Johnson Controls, as well as a 10-year "performance contract" that was signed in 2004. That contract has allowed the district to more or less lease equipment and utility upgrades, such as Frankfort Square Elementary School's air-conditioning, from the company, he said.

"All of the control systems (in the school buildings) are from Johnson Controls," Gerdes said, adding that Dr. Julian Rogus School was the only exception. "Literally, we're linked to Johnson Controls with the investment the district has made over the years."

BUDGET CUTS: Catch Up on Patch's Coverage of D161 and its Budget Issues

Board Vice President Joy Murphy objected to the length of the contract, saying she preferred a one-year deal in order for the district to evaluate Johnson Controls' performance. Murphy said the school buildings—especially Summit Hill Junior High School—have had past issues with climate control under the company. By signing only a one-year contract, she said she wanted to send a message to Johnson Controls.

Gerdes said the district couldn't sign a one-year contract, and he and other board members pointed out that both parties could opt out of the deal in the first year with 45-days notice.

Read the blog transcript for more details from Wednesday's meeting, as well as photos and videos from the art awareness presentation by Frankfort Square students.

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