La Grange School Conflict Of Interest Issue Under Review

LA GRANGE, IL — The La Grange School District 102 board expects an update later this month on the investigation into an allegation that a member has a conflict of interest.

The district has tasked the Oakbrook Terrace-based Kriha Boucek law firm with the review. It is the firm that the district typically uses.

At a meeting in March, board member Bessie Boyd expressed concern that board Vice President Ed Campbell was using his position as a board member to benefit his new business' saliva screening service. Campbell called the allegation "meritless."

The board is expected to receive an update on the law firm's review at its May 27 meeting.

Asked about the investigation Wednesday, board President Mike Melendez declined to discuss Boyd's allegation. He said he wanted the firm to conduct the review free of a board member's influence.

"When a question like this arises, the board sends it to their law firm. The law firm does the review," Melendez said in an interview.

Boyd also said she did not want to comment on the matter until the board gets a report from the law firm.

Campbell said in an email, "I am happy to let the process work itself out and will abide by whatever guidance or finding that comes from district legal counsel related to this matter."

Campbell played a big role in starting the district's saliva screening program last fall. He formed SafeGuard Screening LLC to extend the concept of screening to other districts. For his efforts, Campbell, a microbiologist and immunologist at Loyola University in Chicago, has received national publicity, including on NPR. No District 102 money has gone to Campbell or his company, public records show.

However, Boyd, a retired elementary school principal, said during a March board meeting she was concerned Campbell was using the lab results from the district in his sales presentations to other districts. This has allowed him to market his company and win sizable contracts, she said.

"This may not be a concern to anyone but me," Boyd told the board. "But I ask the board, are we allowing this precedent of unethical practice to be set by our school board members? For example, if Dr. Campbell were not a board member directly connected to this project, would he have any access to the data and background information in order to make his presentations that open doors to his multi-million dollar contracts?"

Campbell said he did not provide any confidential data to other districts. He said they were interested in District 102's online data about the coronavirus.

Patch reported on the debate in a story on the meeting.