District 113A to Discuss Personnel Issue at Special Meeting Friday Night

Board members in Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A remained tight-lipped Thursday on reasons behind an abrupt special meeting called for Friday night — just hours before the holiday weekend.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Old Quarry Middle School, 16100 W. 127th St. The majority of the meeting is expected to be closed to the public, though action "may" occur when the board reconvenes for open session, according to the meeting agenda.

Be sure to follow Lemont Patch throughout the evening for up-to-the-minute news from Old Quarry. We'll be updating our Facebook and Twitter pages often, and will post an update to the site when and if there is any significant news.

District 113A Superintendent Tim Ricker was not in the office Thursday, and was not expected back Friday.

Board President Mike Aurelio and Board Member Lisa Wright, the board's official spokesperson, both declined to comment when contacted by Patch.

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Original post, 7:13 p.m. Wednesday

The Board of Education will hold a special meeting Friday night to discuss an undisclosed personnel matter, according to district documents.

The notice for Friday's meeting, which will be held at 7 p.m. at Old Quarry Middle School, was posted shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday.

According to the agenda, the board will immediately adjourn to closed session to discuss "the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the District or legal counsel for the District, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee or against legal counsel for the District to determine its validity."

The board "may take action as a result of closed session," according to the agenda.

District 113A Board President Mike Aurelio declined to comment Wednesday night on the reason for the last-minute meeting. Board Member Lisa Wright, the board's official spokesperson, was not immediately available for comment.

The special meeting for Friday was called just 24 hours after a tense board meeting in which that District 113A received in late August.

The audit was conducted by the Illinois State Board of Education on a 2008-09 transportation claim made by former District 113A Business Manager Bob Beckwith. According to Ricker, the auditor determined that District 113A received "unallowable reimbursements" totaling $305,056 for regular transportation and $23,900 for special education transportation.

In a letter dated Aug. 29, as well as follow-up emails earlier this month, the ISBE Funding and Disbursement Services Department gave District 113A two options for paying back the $305,056: pay the amount in full, or adjust the district's transportation reimbursements over the next three years.

Ricker's recommendation was to take a conservative approach and adjust claims over the next three years. Using this method, the district will not have to use any existing funds, but will need to make reductions in excess of $100,000 to its transportation claims over the next three years. The exact figures were not available Tuesday night.

District 113A is still waiting on the state for direction on the special education reimbursements, Ricker said.

During Tuesday's meeting, Ricker blamed himself for a "breakdown in communication" that ultimately caused the oversight.

"I submitted the letter to [Germany] and delegated that," Ricker said. "I'm not throwing her under the bus. ... I accept full responsibility for a miscommunication from an internal standpoint."

Board Member Al Malley expressed frustration during the meeting that he and other board members weren't immediately informed of the audit adjustment.

"On Aug. 30, the state called about a (financial oversight panel), but no one thought to inform the board of this?" Malley said.

During public comment, several community members echoed opinions they've expressed before that Ricker should either resign or be terminated by the board.

"This is embarrassing for this town. (We're) the laughing stock of the state," said , who for a seat on District 113A's Board of Education and is in March's election. "The biggest question is, why is (Ricker) still here?"

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Friday in the , 16100 W. 127th St.