Koder steps down as board president

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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:35AM

Leadership at Lincolnwood School District 74 was disrupted again Thursday as Board President David Koder relinquished that post, though remaining on the board.

This was the latest shakeup to the District 74 board that already saw its chosen vice president, Richard Ruderman, resign both his post and his membership during the last board meeting Jan. 21

The board appointed Amy Frankel its chair pro-temp at the meeting, while Koder remains on the board in a non-officer capacity.

More than 60 residents attended the school board’s meeting, where officials announced they were seeking to replace Ruderman, who resigned after the approval of contract extensions for Superintendent Mark Klaisner, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Susan Brandt, and Assistant Superintendent for Business Kevin Nohelty.

The shakeup of the board and re-evaluation of its policies and practices have followed a citizen-led investigation into spending habits by school administrators and officials.

Residents issued since November multiple open letters and Freedom of Information Act requests demanding specific information about expenses related to out-of state travel, conferences, meals, cell phones, and car repairs that they believe should not have been billed to the district.

At the Feb. 2 meeting, Joel Perzov addressed the board to inquire what, if any, reimbursements Klaisner made for expenses related to his district-issued car and an April 2010 conference.

“The examination shouldn’t be handled by the superintendent,” Perzov said. “This is your responsibility.”

Nohelty said the district has so far recovered $6,500 in reimbursements from officials.

Upon questioning by board member Scott Anderson, Nohelty confirmed that recent payments made to the district were a direct result of FOIA requests and that the requests came from multiple sources, not one individual.

Since the board’s Jan. 12 meeting, the district has received 10 FOIA requests, three of which are still outstanding, Nohelty said.

He said staff spent approximately 450 hours and $31,000 processing those requests in January.

Board member Darlene Fourkas asked whether Nohelty is “properly staffed to handle” the work related to processing FOIA requests in addition to his ongoing duties, to which he replied, “no.”

“Given the work flow, it’s pushed us beyond our limits,” Nohelty said. Fourkas suggested the board look into hiring additional staff or services to process FOIA requests.

Anderson requested that, going forward, Nohelty provide the board with a monthly report about FOIA requests and their related costs.

Georjean Hlepas Nickell reported that the policy committee continues to re-examine its rules for paying for out-of-town by officials and administrators and district expenses over $10,000.

Last month the board voted to suspend its policies and require board approval for such costs.

For now, Hlepas Nickell said, the committee “agrees to disagree” and is looking at neighboring school district policy which may be “drastically different than ours.”

Frankel verbally committed to personally follow-up within a week’s time with Klaisner, Nohelty, and the public on several specific matters related to district expenses and residents’ concerns.

Her temporary appointment is the board’s first step in electing new officers, as it allows someone to run the meetings when the presidents and vice president posts are vacant, said Klaisner.

“The same process will occur in April when the board reorganizes as part of its annual processes,” he said.