Lake Forest Superintendent Contract: Why Extend It Early?
Parents Care has strong reason to believe the District 67 Board is considering extending Superintendent Matthew Montgomery’s contract nearly two years before his current agreement expires.
No extension has been approved. But a major decision affecting our schools and tax dollars may be taking shape outside public view.
No commitment to greater transparency
At the September 28 Coffee with Montgomery and Board Presidents event, we asked District 115 Board President John Noble whether an extension was being pursued. He would not confirm or deny it.
When challenged about the 48-hour public notice and lack of advance public access to contract terms before Montgomery’s last extension on April 11, 2023, Noble said, “that is pretty normal.” He also said, “It is our job as elected officials to hire the superintendent.”
He offered no commitment to greater transparency this time. That is unacceptable.
Lake Forest superintendent contract: substantial incentives, unanswered questions
Montgomery already has substantial financial incentives to stay. Under the existing Lake Forest superintendent contract, Parents Care projects:
$563,000 in total annual compensation by FY2027–28
This projected annual total includes retention payments and benefits.
Retention payments: what he receives each year for staying.
Fiscal year | Projected retention payments |
FY2026–27 | $64,000 |
FY2027–28 | $74,000 |
$64,000–$74,000 a year just for not quitting? Those retention payments alone could amount to a full-time salary for many residents. Why extend the contract early when he already has substantial financial incentives to stay?
These are approximate projections under his existing agreement, not proposed extension terms. The second annual retention installment requires a commitment to serve the following school year.
Read the current contract for the term and retention-program provisions.
Conference travel: serious questions remain unresolved
44 possible overlapping school days.
Our preliminary review suggests his travel may have overlapped with 44 days when students
were in school last year.
This does not mean he was gone for all 44 full days. Some dates still need confirmation.
Taxpayers deserve to know how much time he spent away, what those trips cost, and how students benefited, before the boards commit to keeping him longer.
Before any vote, voters deserve a say
An early extension could bind the next board to years of leadership and financial commitments before voters choose their representatives. With the current contract running through June 2028, why make that commitment now?
Keeping residents in the dark until an agreement is ready for approval undermines democratic accountability.
Parents Care expects both boards to:
Explain why an early extension is necessary.
Publish the complete proposed agreement at least 14 days before a vote.
Provide a meaningful opportunity for public input.
The community should not be the last to know and the first expected to pay.
Parents Care
Have a question or concern? Submit a report. We welcome hearing from you.
