By Taylor Fleming
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – The Board of Education for Peoria Public Schools voted to hire an interim chief financial officer Monday night, after the previous CFO left the job in less than two months.
Marcus Alexander, a former superintendent from the Chicago area, will be the PPS financial leader for 75 days.
Former Decatur Administrator Michael Curry became CFO July 1. He had a three-year contract, but he then submitted his resignation in August. The board is still searching for a full-time replacement.
Approving Alexander’s contract was originally on the consent agenda until board member Christina Rose brought it into discussion, asking for financial details to be made public.
“I just wanted to ask [Superintendent Jerry Bell] if he would share with the public a little about the number of days that Dr. Alexander will be hired for, and the per diem rate with the public,” Rose said.
Alexander will be paid $800 per day as the interim CFO. His total compensation could be up to $60,000. Superintendent Bell said the posted salary for the CFO position is roughly $175,000.
Alexander’s contract goes up to 120 days, but according to Bell, Alexander will only be working for 75 days due to personal commitments. He lives in Chicago, and he will travel to Peoria to work two or three days each week. There will be no additional costs for travel or accommodations.
“We are in our finance department in a tight bind in terms of needing experienced leadership. Having Dr. Marcus Alexander come on board would give us a bridge if you will between now and when we hire a permanent CFO,” Bell said.
If the board votes on a new replacement before Alexander’s 75 days are up, Bell is open to ending Alexander’s time with the district early.
Meantime, the school year is already underway and two audits are still unfinished from previous years.
The board hired a consulting firm, NOW CFO, in August to audit the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. Two accountants are being paid $115 an hour, and a controller is making $211 per hour. Bell expects the audits to take about two months to complete.
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