Education Matters US

While researching the no-bid energy contracts, I was informed that Round Lake Unit School District 116 was a member of the IEC. I have FOIAed there information and found this was true. They joined the IEC back in 1999, renewed with them in 2003 and 2005. From the documentation I was given from my FOIA request, none of these contracts were competitively bid. I will scan the documents if anyone is interetested.

You might be asking yourself why I am holding out Round Lake as different than other particpants in the IEC, IUPC, or other energy consortiums who did not competitively bid energy contracts. The answer is simple, Round Lake schools have been under State Finance Authority since 2002. In other words, while under State Control, the school district has been allowed to continue the practive of no-bid contracts.

The SFA fixed the glaring financial mismanagement that had been rampant in the district necessitating the State oversite. They allowed the no-bid practice to continue that has enabled other State organizations, the IASB, IASBO, and the IASA to collect millions of dollars at the expense of the taxpayers.

This no-bid practice must cease. Taxpayers are being forced to pay for this practice.

On June 6th, the court will rule on Tarsitano V. District 211. Hopefully the courts will have some sense and stop this practice although it appears this decision may be moot. Both the House (House Bill 261) and Senate (Senate Bill 48) have passed their bills. They are now in committee in the others’ branch. It is imperative that you contact your legislator today to stop these bills from getting to the Governor’s desk. You can find your on the General Assembly website under Legislator Lookup.