Hazel Crest board approves multiple hires, raises and superintendent pay package

The Hazel Crest SD 152-5 Board of Education on May 19 approved multiple personnel hires and districtwide salary increases for the 2025–26 school year, and adopted a compensation and benefits package for Superintendent Dr. Cynthia Levy.

The board approved hires effective August 2025 that include Rensy Daniel as a math teacher at a listed salary of $67,917 (MA+15, Step 18), Lauren Murphy as a 7–8 math/science teacher at $55,945 (BA, Step 7), Jordan Shake at $55,733 (BA, Step 6), Deborah Rogers at $63,081 (BA, Step 16), and McKai Vann as social worker at $53,475 (MA, Step 2). Recording of the personnel motion shows Member Ivory Myles moved approval and Member Kimberly Chalmers seconded; roll call recorded AYEs from Chalmers, Myles, Richardson, Webb and Barnett and the motion carried.

On compensation, Member Chalmers moved and Member Myles seconded approval of salary increases for the 2025–26 school year (Action Item 25-44); the board recorded unanimous AYEs from present members and carried the motion. The board also approved the superintendent's 2024–2025 evaluation (Action Item 25-46) and then approved the superintendent's 2025–2026 compensation and benefits package (Action Item 25-47) by roll-call votes that recorded the same five AYEs. The agenda lists effective dates and step/salary lines for the listed hires; other individual-contract details were not specified in the meeting record.

Board members did not debate alternative compensation levels on the record during the meeting. The personnel and compensation approvals followed an executive session on personnel matters earlier in the meeting.