A Lake Forest parent advocacy group is pressing District 67 and District 115 boards to explain why Superintendent Matthew Montgomery's contract may be extended nearly two years before it expires.

Parents Care published an analysis Monday, Sept. 28, stating it has "strong reason to believe" the District 67 Board is considering an early extension. Montgomery's current agreement runs through June 2028. No extension has been approved. Neither district has announced a vote.

The group projects Montgomery's total annual compensation will reach $563,000 by fiscal year 2027–28 under his existing contract, including benefits and retention payments. Those retention payments alone would climb to an estimated $74,000 that year, up from a projected $64,000 in FY2026–27, according to the Parents Care analysis. The figures are the organization's own calculations and have not been independently verified against the contract.

Parents Care also flagged a preliminary finding that Montgomery's travel may have overlapped with 44 school days last year. The group cautioned that the number is not final: "This does not mean he was gone for all 44 full days. Some dates still need confirmation."

At a Sept. 28 "Coffee with Montgomery and Board Presidents" event, Parents Care members asked District 115 Board President John Noble whether an extension was being pursued. Noble would not confirm or deny it, according to the Parents Care post.

When challenged about the 48-hour public notice given before Montgomery's last contract extension on April 11, 2023, Noble called it "pretty normal." He said hiring the superintendent is the board's job as elected officials.

Parents Care is calling on both boards to explain why an early extension is necessary, publish any proposed agreement at least 14 days before a vote, and provide a public comment period. The group argues an early extension could lock in leadership and spending commitments before voters elect new board members.

Superintendent contract transparency was also listed on the Sept. 15 District 115 board meeting agenda, according to a separate Parents Care post. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published.

The next scheduled District 115 board meeting is a Finance Committee session on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. at Lake Forest High School West Campus, 300 S. Waukegan Rd.