Nov. 27--Highland Park High School's athletic director will be kept on paid administrative leave through June 30 and then terminated for failures in budgeting and finance, leadership deficiencies and unsound professional judgment, according to a letter from Township High School District 113.
The school board sent the letter Tuesday to Athletic Director Matt Castle after voting Monday to pay his $108,924 salary through mid-2015, then dismiss him. Castle's position at the school had been in question since September when he was escorted out of the high school and placed on leave.
The letter, released in response to a Freedom of Information request, noted reasons for his dismissal, including Castle's inability to improve on previous performance concerns and his "inappropriate electronic communications to another staff member that were intimidating and harassing."
The dismissal letter said Castle had also:
--Failed to administer the athletic department's budget and finances or take ownership of those responsibilities "as evidenced by you blaming other individuals" for those failures.
--Failed to demonstrate department leadership implementing athletic staffing and operational decisions.
--Disregarded Human Resources Director Tony Loizzi's directives to refrain from contacting district staff members during the investigation.
When contacted for comment Tuesday, Castle declined to elaborate, saying he was not sure what he could say under the terms and conditions of his paid leave.
"I feel bad that my name has been dragged through the mud for the last two months and I haven't been to say anything about it," said Castle, 38. "Until I know what I can and cannot say, I don't want to put my paid leave in jeopardy for the rest of the year."
Castle said when he was placed on leave, he was told he could not talk to or see any District 113 employees. He said several offers were put on the table and withdrawn.
"It was a long and grueling process," he said. "I feel bad for the kids and the coaches at Highland Park High School because that is who it really affects."
Castle was hired as assistant athletic director at the school in 2011 with the intent to move him into the athletic director's post with the retirement of Bobbie Monroe in 2012.
On Tuesday, Highland Park High School Principal Tom Koulentes notified parents that Monroe would serve as the full-time athletic director for the remainder of the year. Her new employment terms will be presented to the school board at the Dec. 8 meeting.
Castle was athletic director at Highland Park High School since 2012. Before District 113 hired him, he was a dean at Lyons Township High School for three years. He previously worked as a a physical education teacher and coach at Aurora West High School and as an assistant principal in Aurora.
Read more in the Highland Park News.
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