Does anyone know who were on the "insurance committe????

The more I think about it, the more this issue disturbs me. I understand that stuff like this is discussed in closed session, but how does Anne not inform the public of this situation? And why not file this suit after the referendum vote?

It's almost easier turning a blind eye to the alleged mastermind in this incident than it is our own superintendent. The alleged mastermind was just doing what alleged masterminds do...exploiting a weakness. Our own Anne, who..if I am not mistaken works for us...should have disclosed this. Plain and simple. I realize it was sitting there in Wheaton for any and all to see, but had it not been for SchoolWatcher...how many of us would have been looking for it? What a ridiculous situation.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Clamato,

it seems really bad that with all the administration (and what they're paid) someone wasnt in charge of actually CHECKING that the stop-gap insurance was in place...and why did the reporting error(no dependents vs. with dependents) go on for 3 years? who were the brokers(consultants) reporting too? or was everyone too involved in last year's failed referendum? sure doesn't make me trust them (D41)more!

Do give them some credit. They did actually file suit in an attempt to be made whole. Granted, it's going to cost at least 50k in lawyers fees, but they are trying.

Here's another issue however. It is my understanding that Mr. Baldwin's company also acted as the benefit consultant for District 87...are there similar issues in 87? Have they been discovered and swept under the table? Or have they not been discovered?

Also, how does the company of a former Dist. 41 Board member get these contracts in his backyard? Granted, everything might be on the up-and-up, but these question deserve at least a little investigation.

But since our press totally missed this one for over a year, I am not going to hold my breath for answers.

Funny, SchoolWatcher could find this information but our press somehow couldn't.

Sounds a lot like other incidents around here where the public has to go out of their way to inform themselves of the "prurient" happenings around this Village - right Fish. If it weren't for this message board, we would know nothing...and the local press would be without stories to report.

How much do you want to bet that this filing will now, coincidentally of course with this message board posting, be reported upon?

A quick search of insurance matters on the D41 web site yielded this quote from the Board Highlights of June 26, 2006.

"The BOE also deferred completion of a project to install an ADA lift at Abraham Lincoln School. While not required for ADA compliance, the lift would enhance access to the west wing of the building for disabled students. Faced with possible unanticipated health insurance costs, the BOE felt that deferring this approximately $183,000 project would provide an additional cushion, should it be needed. Once the BOE receives firm health costs, it can decide whether to proceed with or cancel the project."

And then this the following month in the July 17, 2006 Board Highlights.


"OTHER MATTERS: The BOE approved agreements totalling $87,000 with Benefitdecisions™, Inc. to provide employee benefit plan consulting, financial underwriting, insurance brokerage and account management services. The agreements support a change from a self-insured program in which the District contracted with a benefits broker, to a fully-insured program with Blue Cross Blue Shield that provides comprehensive and cost-effective coverage with a greater wellness component. The Benefitdecisions™ agreements cover work that the firm has completed to date to prepare for and carry out this change, as well as services it will provide through September, 2007."


I like how it is explained as "unanticipated health costs."

From the Illinois State Board of Elections site:

Benefit Brokers & Consultants Inc
930 North York Road Suite 220
Hinsdale, IL 60521
$1,000.00 for United 4 Glenbard (the District 87 Ref Committee)
10/12/2004

Funny that D41 is leveling Fraud charges especially when they perpetrated one to the tune of $20 million+ and still counting (phase in).

Now maybe they know how those in the know really feel violated over this scam.

quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:

Here's another issue however. It is my understanding that Mr. Baldwin's company also acted as the benefit consultant for District 87...are there similar issues in 87? Have they been discovered and swept under the table? Or have they not been discovered?

Interesting question.

quote:

Originally posted by ohma:
A quick search of insurance matters on the D41 web site yielded this quote from the Board Highlights of June 26, 2006.

"The BOE also deferred completion of a project to install an ADA lift at Abraham Lincoln School. While not required for ADA compliance, the lift would enhance access to the west wing of the building for disabled students. Faced with possible unanticipated health insurance costs, the BOE felt that deferring this approximately $183,000 project would provide an additional cushion, should it be needed. Once the BOE receives firm health costs, it can decide whether to proceed with or cancel the project."

And then this the following month in the July 17, 2006 Board Highlights.


"OTHER MATTERS: The BOE approved agreements totalling $87,000 with Benefitdecisions™, Inc. to provide employee benefit plan consulting, financial underwriting, insurance brokerage and account management services. The agreements support a change from a self-insured program in which the District contracted with a benefits broker, to a fully-insured program with Blue Cross Blue Shield that provides comprehensive and cost-effective coverage with a greater wellness component. The Benefitdecisions™ agreements cover work that the firm has completed to date to prepare for and carry out this change, as well as services it will provide through September, 2007."


I like how it is explained as "unanticipated health costs."

What tangled webs we weave...or is it the webs we "spin?" Isn't it amazing what small transgressions bring on the heat of scrutiny? Simple burglary brings down a President when he doesn't expose the crooks. Simple fraud is not shouted from the rooftops because it would make the Board look bad. What looks worse for the Board? Maybe the communications czarina can spin the silk purse out of this sow's ear. Sure will be interesting to watch.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
Thank you, School Watcher. Until recently I had heard absolutely nothing about this and it has been out there for almost a year. Anyone else heard about this?

I wonder why that School Week lady hasn't picked up on this?

I know that I have heard Scott Baldwin's name before...I think he is involved with GW Boosters...but I may be wrong. I'd love to know the details of this. Obviously, being sued doesn't make one guilty, but it certainly makes for some interesting reading from start to finish. I recommend every stakeholder north of Roosevelt takes ten minutes to read this.

Google Search (news, all dates):

Glen Ellyn school supporters carry the day Referendum approved by...
$2.95 - Daily Herald - NewsBank - Feb 26, 1997
Glen Ellyn elementary school students may not have to practice the violin in the ... said District 41 board member Scott Baldwin at Cab's Wine Bar Bistro, ...
All 5 related - Related web pages

Glen Ellyn parks looking for a few good program ideas
$2.95 - Daily Herald - NewsBank - Feb 25, 1998
Scott Baldwin, a former Glen Ellyn District 41 school board member and an active parent in the park district, said indoor swimming would be high on his ...
All 2 related - Related web pages

Daily Herald (Newspaper) - September 2, 1993, Chicago, Illinois
Subscription - Daily Herald - NewspaperArchive - Sep 2, 1993
... candidates vying for seats on the Glen El- lyn Elementary District 41 school board ... Newcomer Scott Baldwin says his expertise in working with school ...
Related web pages

The Daily Herald (Newspaper) - November 29, 1993, Chicago, Illinois
Subscription - Daily Herald - NewspaperArchive - Nov 29, 1993
Scott Baldwin one of three new board members said he shares the Franklin ... Spacec J. -Aii Glen Ellyn Elementary District 41 board members recently decided ...
Related web pages

So...was this company ever involved with District 87? I can't find anything.

Thanks kab...former school board member. Interesting. I thought I recognized that name. Don't remember him. I guess that answers the question about how BBC got in the door. Is there a rule about conducting business with present/former board members? Probably not...just wondering out loud.

If you were Benefits Brokers and Consultants, why wouldn't you just pay back the $$$ instead of having your name dragged through the legal system? They must either think they have a strong case or don't feel as though they did anything wrong. The suit certainly sounds damning.

quote:

how does Anne not inform the public of this situation?

Is it naive to ask why school board members have not informed us of this situation?

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
So...was this company ever involved with District 87? I can't find anything.

Found this article on-line from the Herald.

Does anyone ever stop to ask what any of this has to do with educating your children?

Brokers getting 15% commissions on premiums? Overly rich benefits contracts with powerful connected business interests cashing in on fees and commissions?

Note that every district has these same schemes, as well as army of "administrators." These administrators don't do much to educate your child, but they do wonders at laundering massive amounts of money to companies churning bonds (see Daily Herald series), brokering insurance, and finding architects who will say that repairs are more expensive than a new building

(that last scheme was written into the legislature as the "Life, health safety" exceptions.)

I hate to break it to you folks, but Public Education in Illinois has become a legalized money laundering scheme. Billions are taxed and expended, yet the children become an after thought. This lawsuit is merely evidence of just how wasteful the entire system is.

Money should follow children, not arbitrary constructs like districts.
Schools should be converted to independent charters free from bureaucratic control (and the waste seen this suit). They should be run by the parents who choose them, not by an adminstrative class that excells at nothing save finding new reasons to tax, spend and waste money.

Next, funding across the state should be equalized, and provided by the state. The idea that one suburb spends $20K (on what, one should ask - it isn't "the children") while another spends $7or 8,000 should be ruled a violation of the equal protection clause.

Permanently zero out the property tax for education, and increase state taxes so as to fund every child with about $7-8000 indexed to inflation.

Bold reforms? Yes, and why not? The existing system is indefensible. It can't be "fixed." Just break it.

Here is the outline of how to do this.

For a glimpse of how good schools could be, read What makes Finnish kids so smart.

Education should be about kids, and not about adults on message boards complaining about adults skimming 15% off the top for adults with rich benefits, who clamour for more taxes from adults whose houses have crushing 30 year tax liabilities placed on them a adults in the legislature who wrote legislation for the sole benefit of adults working inside a protected monopoly.

Re-read the silly lawsuit. It doesn't have to be this way.

Dear Bruno: you're preaching to the choir here and what you've said has been stated a multitude of times. We, the general public and certain politicians, face the daunting task of change to the system. The Union is entrenched and very powerful and will stop at nothing to maintain the status quo. At least, at the local level, we have some power to do something about it.

If this insurance suit is won by the district, it clearly highlights that rank amatuerism of past board members. We need business and legal backgrounds at the helm well versed in the analysis of a balance sheet, not well meaning parents who don't know squat about finance. Education is the businees and it needs to monitored closely. For sure it is a complicated enterprise.

Certain mandates in some states have a certain percenatge of money that must go to the classroom and to the students. Illinois is below that reommended percentage. The question is why? After the phase in, D41 went on hiring spreed for admins, look at the numbers. They had to do something with the money that comes in year,after year, after year.

As far as I'm concerned the School Districts should look at a "user fee", like tuition to college. I would have to guess that close on 98% of the people in this town could pay for their childrens education. Why shouldn't they? If such parents could not make that threshold, come up with a formula for aid assistance. People need to come to the realization that they have to pay for services rendered.

But as you say, the real problem is the structure of the ed system. It's outa control and only a crisis will get these clowns in Springfields attention I'm afraid to say.

BTW, who's controlled the purse strings in Illinois these past 30 years????

quote:

Originally posted by sances:

quote:

how does Anne not inform the public of this situation?

Is it naive to ask why school board members have not informed us of this situation?

Of course, sances. My asking is simply presenting mock shock regarding a situation that I know damn well was squirreled away from voters and taxpayers.

Gus and all,

If I am preaching to the choir, then let me preach some more.

I currently am doing 2 presentations across the state (anywhere I can). The first is on how badly we need a Constitutional Convention. I lay out the dangers and the promise of a "Yes" vote, as well as a well thought out series of policy improvements.

None of them tackle education head on, but they do empower citizens regarding transparency and taxation.

The other presentation lays out my education plan in detail. It is currently impossible to get passed in the GA, but that will change.

It will certainly remain impossible if all we ever do is try to "fix" this unfixable system.
____

I would gladly come to Glen Ellyn to present either one, but frankly, the Con Con is the more important of the two at this time.

Some one there book the room, and I'll be there with Starbucks and bells on.

How did you find us, Bruno? How did this come up on your screen?

Just curious...

Is your show broadcast on the internet?

My recollection from the Tribune's analysis (several years ago) of the "money following children" plan and not basing school expenditures on local property taxes was not positive. I believe that the net effect found by the Trib's extensive analysis would have Glen Ellyn area residents paying double digit percentage increases in total taxes (state income, etc).

I suspect someone on this board has a clearer and more precise recall of the article I'm vaguely remembering.

I agree that the education system needs a major shake-up. I'd like to hear more at one of these presentations.

I truly believe it is possible to pay teachers well, provide reasonable health benefits, employ appropriate support staff, provide innovative curriculum and instruction, and make education more engaging for less money than we spend already.

I have been feeling lately that I'm on the verge of having a brainstorm to fix the problems in education...all these little pieces are floating around in my brain: more innovative structures to schools, understanding how the brain learns, creating a system that meshes with the normal development of kids, providing better support and accommodations for kids with special needs, re-vamping funding so that there is less waste. It's maddening to have all these thoughts without a solution.