Before his taxpayer-funded pension contribution, Glen Ellyn School District 41 Superintendent Paul Gordon will receive $296,067 in total compensation this year.
So it figures that he would, at least privately, support a proposal for the district he leads to spend more local tax dollars on his schools.
But Gordon, of Wheaton, has taken a more aggressive, public tact, both personally contributing to a local activist group pushing the controversial $24.2 million referendum and giving the group "thousands" of parent emails, through which it is promoting its agenda.
Glen Ellyn District 41 Superintendent Paul Gordon is actively supporting a pro-referendum group. He will earn nearly $300,000 this year.
| Glen Ellyn School District 41
Gordon, who Illinois State Board of Elections records show voted in the 2016 Democratic primary, told Shaw Media reporter Eric Shelkopf that he personally decided to give the group he is backing, 41 Forward for Kids, "the entire list" of parent emails, and that he had the authority to do so.
He said there was no "malicious intent" but that he wouldn't do it again.
DuPage Policy Journal has filed FOIA request for the same email database, but hasn't received a response.
Gordon and his wife, Marianne, are listed on the 41 Forward for Kids website as donors, along with the Glen Ellyn Education Association, which represents teachers in their negotiations with him.
Glen Ellyn District 41 will spend $24.4 million on teacher and staff compensation in the 2015-16 school year, or $93,145 per employee. Four staff members, including Gordon, received more than $200,000.
Eleven received more than $150,000; 123 of 245 total employees received more than $100,000 in compensation.
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