Event: Defend the Vote
Start: January 4, 2012 7:00 pm
End: January 4, 2012 8:30 pm
Updated: December 26, 2011
Venue: Cook Memorial Library
Address: 413 N Milwaukee, Libertyville, IL, 60048

Has Grayslake D46 turned over all the FOIAed emails?

No, they have not.  In fact Superintendent Correll and Board President Millington have both emailed me to claim they have provided all emails.  See the picture below to see why their statements are false.

Have you tried working with the board directly to resolve this and stop costing the district money?

Yes, I have met with the Board President and another Board Member.  We discussed many different scenarios to resolve the ethical issues while I would withdraw the ethics complaints totally eliminating the need for a full invesitgation.  None of my compromise offers were accepted.

My final attempt to get this resolved as soon as possible, was for the board to release all emails to the investigator (Hon. Judge Tonigan) to be reviewed.   If any violations were found, they would be turned over to the State Atty for further investigation to ensure there was no criminal wrong doing.  I would have dropped the complaints for a few of the more minor violators if the board agreed to have a training class each year for staff on the proper use of email.  This too was rejected by the board.

I thought the State’s Atty was already investigating.  Is that not accurate?

The State’s Atty is only investigating Sue Facklam’s gift card for voter registration incident.  Paying for voter registrations is a Felony.

(10 ILCS 5/29‑1) (from Ch. 46, par. 29‑1) 
    Sec. 29‑1. Vote buying. 
    Any person who knowingly gives, lends or promises to give or lend any money or other valuable consideration to any other person to influence such other person to vote or to register to vote or to influence such other person to vote for or against any candidate or public question to be voted upon at any election shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. 
(Source: P. A. 78‑887.)

The board has to complete the investigation on the remaining ethics violations first and then give the finding to the State’s Atty before they will investigate the rest to ensure no criminal laws were broken.  The board is thus preventing the State’s Atty from investigating the remainder of the email issues.

Ellen was reprimanded and apologized. Can’t we move on?

According to board policy, Ellen’s violation should have been turned over to the States Atty.  It was not.  In addition I appealed the ruling of the board.  Again, according to board policy, the board was supposed to review the appeal and act on it within 30 business days.  The 30 days came and went on August 16th without any board action.  Why is the board willingly violating their own policy?

Second, when Ellen’s reprimand was read, there was a supplemental report from Mr. Mittleman finding Mary Garcia had also violated the D46 board policy.  This was never acted on as well.  In an email from Board President Millington, he stated they did not have to act because Mary was no longer on the board.  The problem with that statement is the board acted on an earlier report when Mary Garcia and Sue Facklam were found innocent. This was also after Mary was off the board.  You can clearly see another selective enforcement of Board Policy.   Why is the board willingly violating their own policy?

The board and administration is continuing to stone wall the investigation.  They are the ones preventing this from being over.  It could have been over in June, and probably July at the latest if they would have allowed it.

We are supposed to teach our kids good behavior.  The district does this with their PBIS program.  Why should the board and administration be allowed to demonstrate unethical and possibly criminal behavior with so much as a thorough investigation?  If you allow continued bad behavior, it just encourages it to happen again and again.

How long before this negative saga be over?

I really don’t know at this point.  It is really up to the board and administration.  They have the power to end this swiftly by releasing the remainder of the emails so a complete and thorough investigation can be completed.  Until they do this, the investigation will continue.  This includes the possibility of a court case to force the release of the emails.

How much has this investigation cost the district?

At the board meeting on Wed, Sept 7th, a cost of over $30,000 was mentioned.  This question will have to be answered more definitively by the district.  Again, it is they who have forced the costs to continue.  I offered compromises to resolve this and the district refused.   They have also prolonged this by refusing to release the remainder of the emails.  I have to ask myself, what else are they hiding?

These are just emails, what is the big deal?

First, the email system is paid for by the taxpayers and it is a violation of board policy to use taxpayer resources to electioneer.  In many instances it is illegal.

Second, many of the emails were sent during hours when these employees should have been working. If these employees had been doing their work instead of campaigning, maybe the failing subgroups would have met AYP.

In the private sector, if you were campaigning on company time or using their resources, you’d most likely be fired immediately.

Lastly, when you allow unethical behavior to continue, you are just asking for trouble.  This behavior will continue and next time it will probably be worse.

What about all the new email evidence mentioned at the board meeting Wed night?

I am awaiting direction from the board as to how they want the new evidence handled as mentioned in the Mittleman report. I will release it as soon as that takes place. If the board decides to ignore their own board policy again, I will be asking Hon. Judge Tonigan on Tuesday if he can include it in the current investigation. If so, I will release it publicly at that time as well.

This does include additional evidence of similar activities that Superintendent Correll was reprimanded for already. It also shows Superintendent Correll and Karen Weinert researching how to get a board member kicked off the board.

Is this a personal vendetta against Superintendent Correll?

No, it’s about ethics and possible corruption. The continued use of the “it’s personal” argument is just an attempt to minimize the seriousness of the alleged wrong doing by MULTIPLE people within the district. The list of those involved includes current board members, former board members, administrative employees, union leaders and several other district staff members. The case itself is all about the unethical and possible criminal behavior of those listed. The exact charges range from minor to that of possible felony. They all stem around the use of taxpayer resources to collaborate against the taxpayer during the last election to keep elect people who would maintain the quid pro quo apparently taking place within the district.

Lake County Tea Party Condemns Contract Extension
of Grayslake School District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll

Contact:
Lennie Jarratt
Lake County Tea Party
2306 N. Tedy Ln.
Round Lake Beach, IL 60073
847-302-3985
Lennie@LakeCountyTeaParty.com

http://lakecountyteaparty.com

(Round Lake, IL – September 8, 2011) The Lake County Tea Party strongly condemns the vote to extend the contract of Grayslake District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll while there are ongoing ethics and criminal investigations. This was a brazen disregard for the taxpayers and the children of the district.

The mission of District 46 is to provide a quality education to the children of the district. It is NOT to be a jobs program for former board members, children of the administration, or spouses.

The Lake County Tea Party stands with the citizens of District 46 against the district’s unethical and bullying behavior. It is time to stop the corruption tax so the monies provided to the district reach the classrooms to help the children of the district receive a quality education.

Lake County Tea Party chairman Lennie Jarratt welcomes all area residents to contact the Tea Party if they have questions about the organization’s activities or positions on issues. Please call the Lake County Tea Party at (847) 302-3985.

About Lake County Tea Party

Established in 2009 and headquartered in Round Lake Beach, Lake County Tea Party is a grassroots organization working to restore fiscal sanity to all levels of government and to support the U.S.
Constitution.

###

For further information or for an interview contact:
Lennie Jarratt, Chairman
847-302-3985
Lennie@LakeCountyTeaParty.com

The Grayslake District 46 School is once again trying to reward unethical behavior.  Superintendent Correll was reprimanded for using her position to campaign for incumbent candidates Facklam & Garcia.  The board is set to vote on giving her a contract extension Wednesday night even though sitting board members worked with Correll in the campaign. 

Some of the other known examples of Superintendent Correll’s leadership failures and pay to play politics are as follows:

• Hired 2 former board members
• Hired the spouse of a board member
• Hired her own daughter
• Hired the daughter of an Assistant Superintendent
• High turn over rate of administrators
• Telling newly hired employee to lie an resign because she did not properly vet the hire first
• Chosen the route of costly litigation instead of apologies or finding compromise solutions

Please call and email the board members below with your opinion on this matter.  Attend the board meeting if you can to speak up.

Debt Ceiling Increase Shows Failed Leadership
Lake County Tea Party Calls Increase Irresponsible and Hypocritical

Contact:

(Round Lake, IL – August 3, 2011) Lake County Tea Party today called the deal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling and any increase in deficit spending “a failure in leadership.” The Lake County Tea Party maintains that the administration will not be able to successfully stabilize the economy through greater debt.

Tea Party Chairman Lennie Jarratt recalled a statement by then-Senator Barack Obama in March, 2006, during a previous debate on raising the debt ceiling. “Senator Obama stated that “the fact that we are here today to debate raising American’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies.’” Jarratt pointed to the irony that the country’s debt has multiplied under the Obama Administration. He noted that the Tea Party is committed to educating voters on the virtues of fiscally responsible government at all levels and that “robbing Peter to pay Paul” is irresponsible.

Lake County Tea Party is a grassroots organization that was formed to communicate to government that people are “tapped out, tired of it, and not going to sit idly by while they do business as usual,” said Jarratt. Besides advocating for taxpayers and constitutional right, the Lake County Tea Party has been working to fight corruption in all areas of government. Lake County Tea Party invites all area residents to join them, and welcomes any contact regarding the organization’s activities and positions on issues. Please call the Lake County Tea Party at (847) 302-3985.

About Lake County Tea Party

Established in 2009 and headquartered in Round Lake Beach, Lake County Tea Party is a grassroots organization working to restore fiscal sanity to all levels of government and to support the U.S.
Constitution.

Lake County Tea Party Condemns New York Times for Column
Tea Party NOT Terrorists

(Round Lake, IL – August 3, 2011) Lake County Tea Party takes strong issue with today’s column in the New York Times, “Tea Party’s War on America.” Columnist Joe Nocera characterizes the Tea Party as “terrorists” who have “waged jihad,” who wear “suicide vests” and who have “gleeful willingness to destroy America’s full faith and credit.”

Lake County Tea party member Bonnie Quirke noted, “Last winter when Congresswoman Gabriella Gifford was shot, there were widespread accusations in the media blaming conservatives such as Sarah Palin for the attack. President Obama soon urged that politics in America adopt a more civil tone. Where’s the civil tone now?”

Contrary to the statements in the New York Times, Lake County Tea Party is committed to educating voters on the virtues of fiscally responsible government at all levels. The organization is also committed to a free market economic system to restore jobs and prosperity to communities. Lake County Tea Party has also been working to fight corruption and felonious activity at all levels of government.

Lake County Tea Party chairman Lennie Jarratt welcomes all area residents to contact the Tea Party if they have questions about the organization’s activities or positions on issues. Please call the Lake County Tea Party at (847) 302-3985.

About Lake County Tea Party

Established in 2009 and headquartered in Round Lake Beach, Lake County Tea Party is a grassroots organization working to restore fiscal sanity to all levels of government and to support the U.S.
Constitution.

Join us for viewing excerpts of “The Cartel” then hear from a variety of actively engaged panelists who understand the problems in the public education system. Hear their solutions.

When:

Thursday, July 21st
6:30 PM – 9 PM

Where:

McHenry County College Conference Center
8900 US Hwy. 14

Please Click the Image below to print and share the flyer.