SD 81 cuts board president’s wife’s pay

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Updated: February 23, 2012 8:15AM

Union School District 81 board members — who were shocked to learn the board president’s wife was earning nearly $60,000 per year as the district’s cafeteria manager — voted 4 to 2 last week to reduce her salary by more than $10,000.

Patty LaRocca, wife of board President John LaRocca, had been the district’s second-highest-paid employee, earning $58,950. That was more than any teacher in the single-school district, which serves parts of New Lenox and Joliet.

The board voted Wednesday night to reduce that to $48,223.

Voting against the measure were LaRocca’s son, Sam LaRocca, and Homer Warren. John LaRocca abstained. Those supporting the cut in pay were Cindy DelSasso and Linda Brunner, who served on a committee to review LaRocca’s salary, and John Hone and Patrick Sweeney.

Board members said they only became aware of Patty LaRocca’s salary last fall, after the SouthtownStar filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the district’s payroll records. Although board meeting minutes in October 2010 indicate the board discussed switching Patty LaRocca from an hourly to a salaried employee, the board never approved the amount.

Supt. Barb Littlejohn previously said she mistakenly failed to bring the matter back to the board for a vote.

Patty is not the only LaRocca on the payroll, which also includes three daughters and occasionally two sons, who have done odd maintenance jobs.

John LaRocca previously justified his wife’s salary, claiming she works year-round doing maintenance work in the summer months. He could not immediately be reached for comment.

The LaRoccas also have been questioned by fellow board members about personal use of the school van.