Residents confront officials on spending

• Reprints

Updated: February 20, 2012 8:59AM

As winter’s first major storm raged outdoors, a storm of anger inside Lincolnwood Village Hall Thursday as more than a dozen residents accused School District 74 board members and administrators of egregious spending and financial mismanagement of taxpayer dollars.

A standing room-only crowd of about 100 braved the snow for the school board’s monthly meeting where officials heard the public’s concerns over district expenditures for personal cell phones, car repairs, meals, and multiple out-of-state conferences, including one in Disney World.

In one instance, a three-night trip by Board President David Koder to San Francisco in April 2011 cost over $13,500, according to district records.

Receipts show Koder used a district-issued credit card to charge $419 in limo rides, $227 for a breakfast meal, and $616 for a dinner with six bottles of wine for four people.

“I’m extremely curious about whether this is all true,” said Paul Levine, a member of Lincolnwood’s Economic Development Commission and former village trustee.

“Your duty, your fiduciary duty, is to the children and your second duty is to the taxpayers,” he told board members.

“I, along with many concern citizens, will be watching.”

The four-hour-long meeting, tainted with open bickering between audience and board members and among the board itself, resulted in the adoption of two policies to temporarily bar district spending over $10,000 and out-of-town travel by board members and administrators without first gaining school board approval.

The motions came after several residents criticized the board for its “rubber stamp” practices.

A Jan. 6 letter to officials signed by 13 residents alleges that, in 2010, District 74 administrators authorized at least 15 conferences or events across the U.S. that totaled nearly $41,000. In 2011 there were 21 events through Oct. 20 that added up to $58,000, the letter states.

In addition to questions about the nature of those expenses, residents asked whether the board approved Superintendent Mark Klaisner’s purchase of a 2011 Cadillac.

Though Klaisner’s contract allows for the district to provide him with a car, some said the $45,000 sticker price is high.

Several residents called for a thorough and complete evaluation of Klaisner’s performance before renewing his contract on June 30.

Joanie Collens said the “cavalier spending” of administrators and officials has “absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with educating children” and is “an insult to injury” to taxpayers who live on fixed incomes and are struggling to save their homes and jobs.

Kathy O’Brien, a mother of three District 74 students, said as the “protector to the school district’s assets,” it is the board’s responsibility to provide a quality education at an affordable cost.

“If this district cannot afford to rent a bus to take students to the state science fair, how can it afford limo service for President Koder?” she asked.

O’Brien said District 74’s cost per student is sometimes six-and-a-half times higher than private schools.

“That is a disgrace,” she said.

Last year District 74 spent $14,870 per student in operating expenses, according to data compiled by the Illinois Interactive Report Card website.

Public discontent erupted this past fall when officials approved plans for a $25-million renovation of Lincoln Hall Middle School without first gaining taxpayer support.

Eight residents filed a lawsuit alleging the district broke the law by not granting community members the right to vote on the issue.

The school board had since voted to place a referendum on the March 20 ballot asking voters if the school should issues bonds to replace the 70-year-old school.

But it was too little, too late as residents openly criticized the district’s officials for shutting the public out of its decision-making process.

“I am so disappointed in each of your actions to approve a new school building at roughly $30 million without the approval of taxpayers,” said Marilyn Marwedel. “Do you think we’re stupid or don’t care? Don’t forget we elected you and you’re accountable to us.”

Attorney Joann Angarola, a named plaintiff in the lawsuit, said she made five Freedom of Information Act requests to the district since November because she is concerned about expenditures.

“As a taxpayer of this village I want to know how taxpayer money is being spent,” she said. “It’s not for my amusement. I have better things to do.”

Angarola said when she requested the district’s expense reimbursement policies and procedures, Kevin Nohelty, Assistant Superintendent for Business, said the documents would he “unduly burdensome to produce in five days,” the typical time allotted for answering a request.

“I cannot understand for the life of me why this district would have to do an extensive search,” Angarola told the school board. “These documents should be at your fingertips and on your website.”

She said that while she suspects the documents may be “embarrassing,” withholding them is “not an option.”

Under the Freedom of Information Act, failing or refusing to produce information in reasonable period of time is a crime.

“And as you know by now, I’m not afraid to file a lawsuit,” she said. “Please just follow the law.”

School board members did not directly confirm nor deny resident’s comments nor answer any questions during the meeting.

Koder said “a full report will be provided (by administrators) to the board to address all these concerns” and then shared with the public.

Resident Joel Perzov made a final plea to District 74 administrators to be watchful of their spending.

“There are several on the board who want to do the right thing,” he said. “Please let’s get control of the school district.”