By Catherine Edman Daily Herald Staff
Published: 5/30/2008 1:51 PM Updated: 5/30/2008 9:43 PM
College of DuPage's presidency will cost taxpayers at least $400,000 over the next year.
And that's not including whatever trustees decide to spend searching for -- and hiring -- a third person to fill the job.
When the board voted to cancel Sunil Chand's existing contract Tuesday and create a new one for his "mutually agreed upon" role as president emeritus, they committed to spend a minimum of $273,482 on salary and benefits. It will rise once his raises are calculated next month. On Thursday, trustees agreed to spend another $113,776 by hiring former president Harold McAninch on an interim basis.
That's assuming McAninch works only for the next six months, which is his stated preference.
The total for those two, then, is $387,258. And it doesn't take into consideration the fact the board will create a third contract with a new president once the search concludes, possibly around the start of 2009.
Board Chairman Micheal McKinnon, though, said in a written statement that trustees will not rush the process. "All of us on the Board have experienced this week, these decisions are very difficult. Having the best team in place is critical to a college's success, and the Board bears this responsibility," McKinnon said in the statement. "We must remain focused and have thick skins to make these calls."
McAninch said he's already spoken to Chand about working with the foundation board this next year on a $10 million endowment campaign for health-related fields.
According to the agreement with Chand released by the college, some aspects of his prior contract will remain the same through July 1, 2009. They include:
• $7,200 car allowance.
• $10,000 housing allowance.
• $7,800 annuity.
• State University Retirement System contribution, or 8 percent of salary; and SURS health insurance contribution, or 0.5 percent of salary. A minimum of $20,806.
• Six paid days off for consulting, paid vacation, and health and life insurance.
New elements of the contract include:
• Annual salary of at least $197,676, which was his salary in 2006-2007. His raises through 2009 will match those given vice presidents. Trustees will approve retroactive 2007 administrator raises in June setting base salaries.
• Chand will remain president emeritus but go on sabbatical in 2009, from July 1 to Dec. 31, and not accept assignments from the college. He will not receive a salary during those six months, but he will get up to $10,000 in required SURS contributions, if needed.
• Pay outplacement costs up to $20,000 incurred between May 27, 2008, and Dec 31, 2009.
Meanwhile, COD trustees agreed to give McAninch a salary of $107,680 for a term between three months and two years. He also will receive a $2,496 housing allowance ($416 monthly payments calculated for six-month minimum) and a $3,600 car allowance ($600 monthly payments calculated for six-month minimum).
So far, the college is spending less than it did when Chand started and was in the reverse situation with former President Michael Murphy. That should change, though, after they hire an incoming president.
Trustees accepted Murphy's early retirement in 2002, effective in 2003 -- a year before his contract expired -- and paid him $297,098 for work as a fundraising and government consultant in 2004. His salary then was larger than Chand's is next year because as a retiring administrator, Murphy automatically received benefits aimed at compensating retiring employees, Murphy said this week.
Taxpayers spent at least $521,280 on the two men's salaries and benefits for the year they both worked at the college. As Chand was allowed to choose Murphy's assignments that final year, McAninch now will assign his.
