Groups Question COD President's Contracts, Want Investigation

A trio of watchdog groups are publicly questioning the school contracts given to College of DuPage President Robert Breuder and want a government probe looking into their legality, according to a Daily Herald report.

»Via The Daily Herald

The Edgar County Watchdogs, For the Good of Illinois and OpenTheBooks.com asked Thursday for the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office to investigate all of Breuder’s employment contracts, the report stated. The demand comes after the state’s attorney general’s office last week determined that the college’s board of trustees violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act when it approved the president’s 2011 employment extension, the report added.

This request also comes a day after two College of DuPage trustees revealed they’ve been forced to file Freedom of Information Act requests after their access to school financial records, legal invoices and letters and emails from the board’s attorneys had been denied, according to another Daiy Herald report.

»RELATED: College of DuPage President Originally Wanted $1.5M Buyout

Breuder and the College of DuPage continue to face scandalous accusations of extravagant spending and wasting taxpayer money. Here’s a look at some of the claims facing the institution and the president, currently on paid leave:

• In January, school board members voted to send the community college’s president Robert Breuder away with a $762,000 buyout. That was funded by taxpayers.
• Audio tapes of the buyout negotiations between Breuder and the board of trustees revealed that the president initially asked for a $1.5 million severance payment—almost three years’ salary—and other perks. The board refused to accept those terms.
• Then there were the business dealings at the college radio station and a move tocensure a board member.
• Earlier in March, it was revealed that nearly $200,000 was charged in food and liquor costs at the college’s fine dining restaurant, Waterleaf.
• The last week in March, the college allegedly awarded signage contracts to a foundation member without going to bid for the jobs.
• On April 13, the former radio station employee pleaded not guilty to the charges he faces.
• The on April 20, it was discovered that an additional $160,000 has been spent at the College of DuPage restaurant, Waterleaf, from an account that was previously undiscovered.