Community Unit School District 200 Superintendent Richard Drury has resigned. The decision, announced Thursday Oct. 15 night after days of closed session meetings, quiets some rumors but raises new questions about differences between Drury and the district’s board of education.

"(The board) and (Drury) have entered into an agreement providing for (Drury's) resignation effective March 9, 2010," Board President Andrew Johnson said after ending Thursday Oct. 15 night's meeting.

Johnson said that in August, differences arose over future goals and the leadership and direction of the district.

Asked after the meeting if the board would say what those differences were, Johnson said "No. The statement speaks for its self."

As part of the agreement between Drury and the board, Drury will be paid for the remainder of his full salary for the 2009 through 2010 school year. "The remaining salary is approximately $148,000 plus approximately $15,500 in regular contributions to be paid by the board to the  Illinois Teachers Retirement System," said Johnson. "The agreement also provides for a $60,000 post-resignation severance payment in lieu of any other payments under (Drury's) contract of employment, which is replaced by the agreement."

The board expects to name the district's Interim Director for High School Curriculum Dr. Charles Baker to serve as acting superintendent.

Drury will continue working in an "administrative capacity performing educational work of value to the school district," Johnson said. He will earn a base salary of $208,000.

Drury will also get 55 days of vacation, consisting of 25 days for the 2009 through 2010 school year and 30 days carried over from previous years. He must use the vacation days or lose them.

He also has 53 days of sick leave accumulated which will continue to be available to him. During the term of Drury's employment he will also continue to be covered with term life insurance, disability insurance and indemnity benefits.

Wheaton resident Jeane Ives has children in a district school. After Thursday ,Oct. 15, night's meeting she told a reporter she is not satisfied with Johnson's statement. "I'd like to know the real reason that he's resigning this early. It seems to be a little bit in the middle of everything," said Ives. She said that the board's decision sounded expensive. "It doesn't sound like there was anything he did wrong, so I'd like to know why he's really being forced to resign."

According to the resignation agreement, "Dr. Drury acknowledges that he has entered into the agreement voluntarily without any duress or undue influence on the part of, or on behalf of the board or anyone else."

Drury has been on vacation since September. Until Thursday's ,Oct. 15, announcement, the board would not confirm that Drury was the topic of several, recent closed session talks.