The Earlville school board has given a $192,000 severance package to its superintendent, Wade Winekauf, who faces multiple domestic violence charges, including a felony.
Winekauf was to retire as superintendent of Earlville Community Unit School District 9 in 2018. Under the terms of the agreement with the district's board, Winekauf will instead retire March 11.
The severance package is based on the average of what Winekauf would have received in the remaining two years of his contract. The district is to pay the severance in installments over two years. However, the agreement states that if Winekauf is convicted of a felony, the board can cease payments, and the district will no longer be obligated for whatever severance remains after the date of the conviction. Payment would resume if the conviction is overturned on appeal.
On Nov. 27 in Ogle County, Winekauf, 57, was arrested on two misdemeanor counts of domestic battery and a felony count of unlawful restraint. He was released and his case is pending. According to court records, he has yet to enter a plea. Because the terms of his release forbid him from possessing any firearms, he is unable at present to work at his other job as a part-time officer for the Polo Police Department. He is also under an order of protection forbidding him to make contact with his girlfriend for the next two years.
Winekauf has been superintendent for four years. He served as Earlville principal for five years before that. According to public records, his pay in 2014 was $132,000. Winekauf has been working at home with pay.
Retired Serena Superintendent Dan Joyce will serve as interim superintendent through the end of June. On July 1, the district's current principal, Rich Faivre will become superintendent.
