District 300 candidate calls for ethics reform

A school board candidate in Community Unit District 300 said this week he supports an effort to resurrect a failed ethics measure that aims to prevent pay-to-play politics.

Robert Lee, an East Dundee resident and nonvoting member of the district's policy committee, said the board should adopt the conflict-of-interest policy board member John Ryan tried and failed to pass in 2007.

Ryan's policy would bar the district from doing more than $5,000 in business with a firm that donated to a district campaign in the past two years.

When Ryan introduced the measure in 2007, it was defeated by an overwhelming majority of board members who said the policy was not needed because they saw no evidence of pay-to-play in the district.

But a majority also said they were open to such a policy if concerns over legality, enforceability and wording could be resolved.

Board President Joe Stevens, who voted against the policy in 2007, signaled this week he would be willing to back the measure this time.

"I certainly would be supportive of some kind of ethics policy like that," Stevens said. But he added: "I don't want to hamper legitimate contributions."

Ryan said the policy would target only vendors and contractors, not individuals who wish to make contributions to district campaigns.

Supporters of the policy said it would be timely, coming on the heels of a state pay-to-play law passed in 2008 and a federal investigation into the administration of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

"It's certainly very topical, given the fact that we have allegations against our governor," Lee said. "We should never see that come up in District 300."

But Superintendent Ken Arndt said pay-to-play is a "moot issue" for Illinois schools because they must award most contracts to the lowest bidder.

"I don't think it's really necessary,"Arndt said. "It doesn't matter how much they've contributed. If they're not the low bidder, they're not going to get the bid."

There are a few exceptions to the law, however. Vendors that provide services, such as legal firms and auditors, are excluded from the competitive-bidding requirement.

Before District 300 voters approved two large tax increases in 2006, the district awarded a no-bid contract to architect Burnidge Cassell to design new schools that would be funded by the tax hikes.

Burnidge Cassell was among several firms that contributed to District 300's successful campaign for the tax increases and subsequently did business with the district.

Others include bond consultant William Blair and Co., and legal counsel Franczek Sullivan, according to election reports.

Stevens, who was not on the board at the time, criticized the way the Burnidge Cassell contract was handled.

"I would not have signed such a contract," Stevens said. "That's very disturbing to me. It's that kind of an action that causes this kind of policy."

Arndt said the Burnidge Cassell contract fell outside the competitive-bidding requirement.

"The board at that time was very satisfied with work performed (in the past)," Arndt said.

Burnidge Cassell principal Charles Burnidge did not return a call seeking comment.

The conflict-of-interest policy could come to a vote before the full board as soon as February.