HINSDALE, IL — On June 18, the Hinsdale High School District 86 board voted to accept the resignation of Domenico Maniscalco, the district’s top human resources official. Officials said the resignation was effective Sept. 15.
No one mentioned that Maniscalco, who makes $172,000 a year, would be on sick leave for the rest of his time with the district. But that has apparently been the case. Meanwhile, the district hired a temporary human resources director who makes $750 a day, which is roughly equivalent to the amount of Maniscalco’s pay and benefits.
Days after the board accepted Maniscalco’s resignation, he asked to rescind it in a text message to Superintendent Tammy Prentiss. But Prentiss didn’t take him up on his offer, even though she publicly called him a “valuable member of our team” after the board’s vote.
Maniscalco’s contract refers to the state school code when discussing his sick leave benefit. Under the code, sick leave is interpreted to being used for personal illness, a quarantine at home, serious illness or death in the immediate family or household, adoption of placement for adoption. It is unclear which reason, if any, applies to Maniscalco’s sick leave.
If Maniscalco needed to take sick leave through Sept. 15, it’s unknown why he wanted to rescind his resignation.
The circumstances of Maniscalco’s departure indicate tensions may have existed. The board met specially for the issue of his resignation and convened for 25 minutes behind closed doors to discuss the issue. If the parting was amicable, the board could have handled the issue as routine business at its regular meeting a week later.
Also, Maniscalco started taking leave a few days before the board’s vote. And he did not attend the June 18 meeting, which was all about him.
While the board did not reveal any plan for Maniscalco to take sick leave until his official last day, it released a statement afterward saying it would fill the position on an interim basis. It gave no explanation.
Maniscalco and school board President Kevin Camden did not return messages for comment.
Maniscalco headed human resources for seven years.