Cash strapped Highland Park school board defends 6 figure consultant pay

A school district recently under financial emergency is now paying a consultant a 6 figure salary to oversee operations. “I don’t consider it a raise. I was underpaid to start,” says Kevin Smith, who formerly worked as a state appointed emergency manager for Highland Park Public Schools.  Smith admits he doesn’t have a degree in education and is not an expert on classroom studies. Yet, his salary of $120,000 was approved in a 5-2 vote by the school board last April.