SD 161 Superintendent Abruptly Retires

Summit Hill School District 161 Superintendent Keith Pain submitted a retirement letter to district the board of education Wednesday, May 25.

"I wish you the very best in the future of the school district and will do the very best I can to facilitate a transition to a successful new school year," Pain wrote in a letter read aloud by board secretary Denise Lenz.

Pain has been superintendent since 2004 and did not give a reason for his departure. He did not attend Wednesday's meeting. 

The letter was read with a smattering of applause and a “whoo hoo” from the audience.

 Board President Mary Kenny called the move surprising, though she noted community members had expressed mounting criticism of the. The contract was decided by a controversial 4-3 vote, the day after

During the May 11 meeting, Kenny said public comments were "very hostile" toward the superintendent, with six residents who spoke about issues ranging from the contract to communication issues.

"(Pain) hinted it at the last meeting but you never know it's never a done deal until you get the letter," Kenny said. "It was very, very unexpected."

Board member Sean William Doyle said he thinks the retirement is “premature.”

 "I do think he's done a fine job in this district since he was hired back in '04," Doyle said, adding Pain was able to purchase land to build .

Pain's last day is June 30.

"The last seven years at this school district have been professionally rewarding," he wrote, "and I believe much has been accomplished."