Gavin school board president charged with misconduct, felony theft

Gavin Elementary District 37 board President Barbara Mende has been charged with official misconduct and felony theft.

Mende, 36, was charged Thursday with official misconduct by the Illinois attorney general's office after she was accused of splitting a $13,000 moving contract in two to avoid competitive bidding.

In addition, the Lake County state's attorney's office charged Mende with felony theft because she is accused of padding her paycheck while working in the payroll department of the Lake County Fairgrounds.

Mende was arrested Thursday at her home at 25567 W. Grant Drive in Ingleside. Efforts to reach Mende Thursday were unsuccessful.

On the official misconduct charge, state's attorney's office investigator Lou Archbold said Mende arranged to have a bill for $13,000 separated. That bill, for moving furniture back into Gavin Central School when that building was being reopened last December, was submitted to the board on two invoices for $6,500 each.

According to Archibald, Mende split up the invoices to avoid a competitive bidding process that would have been required had the single bill been submitted.

When the move was made in 2006, former Gavin Superintendent Pam Rockwood and some Gavin board members protested splitting the invoices because they felt it was illegal to bypass the bid process.

But Mende said during the December board meeting she didn't feel it was a violation and said "… if there's a problem from it, I'll take the hit."

Board members Steve Moulis, Christine Johnson and Phil Mack agreed with Mende and voted to split the invoices.

Moulis refused to comment on the issue Thursday, while Johnson and Mack did not return phone calls.

Attorney general officials referred to the state statute in the charge, claiming Mende "knowingly performed an act which she knew was forbidden."

Gavin Superintendent John Ahlemeyer -- who was not with the district when the invoices were split -- said through a news release the district is working with the state's attorney's office to understand the charges.

"The district has contacted the state's attorney's office to confirm information concerning these charges," he said. "In the meantime, the district will defer to the judicial process."

On the felony theft charge, Archbold said Mende paid herself for overtime she did not work, failed to collect payments from herself for insurance, and did not collect a wage garnishment for a Cook County medical bill in the amount of $844.

Between 2005 and this year, Archbold said the fair has lost $11,229 through Mende's deception.

Fair association attorney Rudy Magna said: "Due to the nature of this issue, it is in the hands of the state's attorney and the fair association has been cooperative with their requests. It's up to the state's attorney to take it through the system as they see fit. The fair will remain cooperative with them in every aspect."

Mende cried frequently Thursday during a court appearance before Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak, who told her she faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of the theft charge and up to five years for official misconduct.

Mende told Potkonjak she intended to hire her own attorney. He ordered her to appear in court again Nov. 19.

Potkonjak also ordered her to have no contact with the Lake County fair board or its employees and also told her she cannot participate in any financial decisions made by the Gavin school board.

He also barred her from any type of gambling, which Archbold said is where the money taken from the fair board is believed to have been spent.

Potkonjak released Mende on a signature bond.

Lake County Regional Schools Superintendent Roycealee Wood said she is also reviewing the charges against Mende, but would not speculate as to whether Mende should step down from office.

"We are checking to see if she is able to continue serving at this point in time," she said. "But whether she should step down, that's a judgmental thing the district and the board president needs to decide for herself."

Gavin board member Connie Thorsen -- a longtime opponent of Mende -- said the board president should step down if the charges against her are true.

"It's unfortunate the leader of the Gavin board of education had such disregard for the rules and regulations she was elected to uphold," Thorsen said. "I still need to hear all the details to understand everything, but if these charges are accurate, then I feel that Barb no longer should be on the Gavin school board."