I mentioned that Jameel Naqvi’s Thursday before last Daily Herald article about the Huntley School District was packed with so much information that I couldn’t put down my reactions and amplifications in just one article. It would have been too long.
One thread commented on District 158 board member Larry Snow’s having filed a complaint with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office about Mike Skala, former School Board President.
Skala was narrowly defeated for re-election in April by Aileen Seedorf, Kevin Gentry and Jim Carlin, placing fourth just a few votes above Seedorf’s running mate Linda Moore.
When Jim Carlin, the man who edged Skala out, resigned after six contentious months on the school board, the board majority re-appointed Skala.
But, back to Naqvi’s article. Here are two paragraphs:
“A separate complaint filed with the state’s attorney by board member Larry Snow accuses board member Mike Skala and other current or former board members of signing contracts that didn’t receive board approval, district officials said.
“Skala has denied any wrongdoing.”
Snow insisted to me that the substance of the District’s complaint is a part of his own.
The Daily Herald article also says, “…some officials said Snow’s issues with the audit are already being handled by the state’s attorney’s investigation.”
Snow is not saying which individuals may or may not be named in his complaint.
“But no district official has seen my complaint,” Snow said.
These folks remind me of the Crystal Lake Park Board’s purchase of a replacement patrol boat after a couple of teens torched the one during the dispute that former Crystal Lake Mayor George Wells’ book, “It’s That Way Everywhere, George,” describes so well.
The teens’ families were let off with paying the amount that the park district’s insurance policy did not cover. I think Wells said it was $1,000.
It was a summer night and a lot of us attended the park board meeting. The board went into executive session and we were kicked out of the meeting. We stood outside talking for a l-o-n-g time. Fortunately, it was warm.
Finally, the park board members started coming out of the Main Beach House, where they were meeting.
“What did you do?” I asked.
“We bought another boat,” one replied.
“Would you like to go back in and do it legally?” I asked.
“What do you mean?”
I told them they could not buy a boat in a secret session.
It didn’t matter to this park board. They went home.
I filed a complaint with the state’s attorney. The Friday before the deadline for filing a lawsuit against the board for its illegal action, I got a letter from the top assistant telling me that the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute, but I could, if I wished.
Sure. Non-lawyer me prepare and file a suit by the next Monday.
So, it appears that Snow’s complaint is that contracts were signed by Skala that were not approved in a public District 158 school board meeting.
If so, that doesn’t strike me as kosher.
Whether the McHenry County State’s Attorney will do anything about it is another question, however.