Glen Ellyn District 41 board member resigns over concerns about substitute teaching duties

GLEN ELLYN – Glen Ellyn School District 41 Board of Education member Willie DiFabio on Jan. 9 resigned from the board and will no longer be a candidate in the April 4 election after concerns arose regarding his substitute teaching duties with District 41.

Board members in June 2016 unanimously voted to appoint DiFabio to fill a vacancy on the board created by the resignation of board member Dean Elger, who moved to Utah. Elger was elected to the board in April 2013, and his term expires in April 2017.

DiFabio was among 19 candidates who applied to fill the vacancy. He previously served on the board from 1997 to 2005 and was one of 10 people who filed for four four-year terms open on the board in the April election.

"As part of the interview process for appointment to the board, Mr. DiFabio included in his statement that he is a substitute teacher," board President Erica Nelson said in a statement to the board at the start of its Jan. 9 meeting. "Neither the board nor Mr. DiFabio was aware of any legal or practical limitations on such dual service."

Over the holidays, District 41 Superintendent Paul Gordon was asked if the substitute teaching affected DiFabio's candidacy for election to the board. After consulting with the district's attorney, Nelson said the district has been advised that under board policy and Illinois law, he cannot substitute teach for District 41 and be a member of the board at the same time.

"The district has also been advised that Mr. DiFabio can remain a candidate for the board, but if he is elected and continues to substitute teach, the same conflict of interest issues will arise," Nelson said.

Because DiFabio wants to continue to substitute teach, he submitted his resignation to the board and said he intends to withdraw from the board race by the Jan. 26 deadline, Nelson said. DiFabio also has offered to return to the district the compensation he received for substitute teaching in excess of the amount allowed by the Illinois School Code, she said.

"He has been paid approximately $3,200 this school year for substitute teaching, and the School Code limitation is $2,000," Nelson said. "So, approximately $1,200 will be returned."

The board now has to fill the vacancy created by DiFabio’s resignation. The appointee will serve until the new board members are seated after the April election.

The person will have to be seated prior to the Feb. 21 board meeting.