Lisle School District 202 spent $42,509 for UNICOM-Arc to run Five "Community Engagement" Vision 202 meetings in 2014-2015 School Year.
That's equal to the cost of 177 brand new Dell Chromebooks. (There are only 25 public computers available at the Lisle Library)
Additional expenditures to Unicom Arc are anticipated to cover the PR consulting for Phase 2 of Vision 202 expected to start in Fall 2015. Phase 2 will advance the issue of facilities and set the final stage for the tax increase referendum. The overview of the Facilities Master Plan prepared by Perkins & Will Architects was already presented to the Board at their July 20, 2015 Board Meeting. The contract for architectural services for the Facilities Master Plan was approved at the August 17, 2015 Board Meeting. The amount of the architectural Facilities Master Plan contract is not included on the Board agenda.
That's equal to the cost of 177 brand new Dell Chromebooks. (There are only 25 public computers available at the Lisle Library)
Additional expenditures to Unicom Arc are anticipated to cover the PR consulting for Phase 2 of Vision 202 expected to start in Fall 2015. Phase 2 will advance the issue of facilities and set the final stage for the tax increase referendum. The overview of the Facilities Master Plan prepared by Perkins & Will Architects was already presented to the Board at their July 20, 2015 Board Meeting. The contract for architectural services for the Facilities Master Plan was approved at the August 17, 2015 Board Meeting. The amount of the architectural Facilities Master Plan contract is not included on the Board agenda.
- Was this the best use of $42,509 of public funds?
- How much more public money will be spent on PR on a "Winning Before You Start" PR campaign for a "YES" tax increase referendum?
- Is it legal for a gov't entity to expend public funds on a "Yes" tax increase campaign?
- Do Lisle taxpayers know the strategy that is being used here?
- How were the members of the "Facilitating Team" selected?
- Why did the District abruptly switch the terminology from "Facilitating Committee" to "Facilitating Team?" Perhaps because under State law all committee meetings are subject to the IL Open Meetings Act?
- Were any of the "Facilitating Team" meetings with Unicom Arc open to the public?
- Why did Unicom Arc recommend not allowing any time for Q & A at the Community meetings?
Tate Woods School
2014-2015 Expenditures to Unicom Arc:
Unicom Arc: Paid Approx $27/per each enrolled student in Lisle CUSD 202.
Unicom-Arc: Paid an average per community meeting = $8,500
Unicom Arc: Paid Avg per attendee, per meeting = $57.
Unicom Arc: Assuming the same approx 150 people participated in all 5 meetings, this comes to about $283 cost per participant paid to Unicom Arc paid by taxpayers.
Date Amount
7/8/2014 $ 3,750.00 (july services, billed in advance)
8/1/2014 $ 3,750.00 (aug services, billed in advance)
9/1/2014 $ 3,750.00 (sept services, billed in advance)
10/9/2014 $ 3,750.00 (oct services, billed in advance)
10/9/2014 $ 938.35 (hotels, meals, mileage)
11/4/2014 $ 3,750.00 (nov services, billed in advance)
11/10/2014 $ 512.56 (hotels, meals, mileage)
12/3/2014 $ 3,750.00 (dec services, billed in advance)
1/6/2015 $ 3,750.00 (jan services, billed in advance)
1/30/2015 $ 567.75 (hotels, meals, mileage)
2/6/2015 $ 3,750.00 (feb services, billed in advance)
3/1/2015 $ 462.62 (hotels, meals, mileage)
3/1/2015 $ 3,750.00 (march services, billed in advance)
4/2/2015 $ 3,750.00 (april services, billed in advance)
5/21/2015 $ 1,598.16 (hotels, meals, mileage)
7/2/2015 $ 930.35 (hotels, meals, mileage)
8/1/2014 $ 3,750.00 (aug services, billed in advance)
9/1/2014 $ 3,750.00 (sept services, billed in advance)
10/9/2014 $ 3,750.00 (oct services, billed in advance)
10/9/2014 $ 938.35 (hotels, meals, mileage)
11/4/2014 $ 3,750.00 (nov services, billed in advance)
11/10/2014 $ 512.56 (hotels, meals, mileage)
12/3/2014 $ 3,750.00 (dec services, billed in advance)
1/6/2015 $ 3,750.00 (jan services, billed in advance)
1/30/2015 $ 567.75 (hotels, meals, mileage)
2/6/2015 $ 3,750.00 (feb services, billed in advance)
3/1/2015 $ 462.62 (hotels, meals, mileage)
3/1/2015 $ 3,750.00 (march services, billed in advance)
4/2/2015 $ 3,750.00 (april services, billed in advance)
5/21/2015 $ 1,598.16 (hotels, meals, mileage)
7/2/2015 $ 930.35 (hotels, meals, mileage)
Lisle CUSD 202 Board approved a contract with Unicom Arc for $37,500, plus expenses at their June 16, 2014 Board Meeting.
Here is how the Board in place at the time voted:
(*) Current Board Members.
(**) Term Ended in May 2015.
The PR contract covers the period July 1, 2014 - April 30, 2015. Per the contract, the District "..has the option of extending this contract on a month-to-month basis for the same monthly payment.."
Here is how the Board in place at the time voted:
- McConville (*) - Yes
- Tarasewicz (*) - Yes
- Narot (*) - Yes
- Franklin (**) - Yes
- Corrigan (**) - Yes
- Ahlmann (*) - Yes
- Blaeke (*) - Absent
(*) Current Board Members.
(**) Term Ended in May 2015.
The PR contract covers the period July 1, 2014 - April 30, 2015. Per the contract, the District "..has the option of extending this contract on a month-to-month basis for the same monthly payment.."
Expenses for hotels, meals and mileage came to $5,010, so far.
Contract extension for 2015-16 has not yet been formally approved by the Board.
When we asked Lisle CUSD 202's FOIA officer for a copy of all of the public records that contain the work product of Unicom Arc, we were provided with no documents and were directed to visit the Vision 202 website.
LINK to CONTRACT Approved by Board June 16, 2014 Minutes
LINK to Lisle 202 FOIA Response (Communications)
LINK to Lisle 202 FOIA Response (Communications)
