The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, April 18, 2019 • 5
Federal investigators subpoena records of Tom Cullerton State Senator not accused of any wrongdoing
By Dee Longfellow FOR THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT
On Saturday, April 13, the Independent learned that the records of State Sen. (IL-23) Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) are the subject of a subpoena by Federal investigators who are looking into alleged extortion charges against a former Team-
sters union boss. On Feb. 5, the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago subpoenaed Senate records for Cullerton’s emails, legislative attendance records, personnel files and other documents related to reimbursements for travel including lodging, meals and vehicle allowances from Feb. 1, 2013, through March 3, 2016. Cullerton, 49, has served in the Senate since 2013 and has not been accused of wrongdoing. He declined to comment Thursday. His office directed all inquiries to the U.S. attor-
ney’s office. Records demanded to assist in indictment of Coli The federal grand jury has indicted former Teamsters Joint Council 25 President John Coli Sr. on charges alleging he extorted a Chicago film studio of $325,000 since 2014. Coli was indicted in 2017 on charges alleging he extorted the money by threatening labor unrest at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, which films the popular NBC shows “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago P.D.”
Coli resigned from his union job when he was first indicted in July 2017. The former union boss was a high-profile supporter of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and also weighed in on national politics. Coli pleaded not guilty and the next hearing in his case is set for May 3. According to Federal records, plea negotiations in the case have been ongoing. Cullerton, who was a member of the Teamsters Union before becoming a State elected official, received nearly $183,000 from 2013 to 2015
from the Teamsters Joint Council 25, according to state and federal records. Cullerton has garnered widespread support form labor groups, and the Teamsters have contributed nearly $96,000 to Cullerton’s campaign fund since 2012, according to state campaign finance records. A December, 2017 fundraiser held by the Joint Council raised more than $70,000 for Cullerton’s campaign, records show.
to York High School. The donation to York will cover the costs of a new sound system and a baseball training machine.
mann, Hosler and Kocinski were all elected to the terms on the board in the April 2 election.
Paul DelGuidice contributed to this story.
School board capsules
York Mock Trail team honored The board recognized York High School’s mock trial team, which won first-place honors at the 2019 Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) High School Mock Trial Invitational. The state event took place at the University of Illinois Springfield in March. The mock trial invitational gives students a chance to learn what it’s like to present a legal case before the Illinois courts. York’s mock trial team competed in six regional competitions during the current school year before winning the state championship. For the first time in school history, York’s mock trial team will compete in the national mock trial competition. That upcoming event will take place in Athens, Georgia, in May. Board salutes ILMEA performers The board also recognized the district’s middle school students who were chosen to perform at the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) Elementary and Junior High Division District 1 Music Festival, and at the ILMEA Junior and Senior Jazz Band Festival. The two events both took place separately in November. The students were selected to perform at the event after rigorous auditions. Discussion of SEED grant program The meeting also included a presentation about the Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grant program, a U.S. Department of Education program that provides funding to improve principal effectiveness. Christine Trendel, the principal of Jackson Elementary School, told the board the program helped her manage her time better and spend more time in classrooms. One goal of the grant is to have principals take part in some actual instruction with students. Trendel noted that she has taught a class with a group of fifth-graders. The SEED federal grant was reportedly for $5,000 last year, and for $9,000 this year. The funding provided for professional learning and for hiring a consultant to observe and provide
New assistant of innovation and growth introduced The board voted unanimously to approve the hiring of Scott Grens as the district’s new assistant superintendent of innovation and growth. Grens will have an official start date of July 1, 2019, and an annual base salary of about $153,000. Grens, who is currently a principal at an elementary school in Lincolnwood, will replace Mark Cohen, who will become the district’s assistant superintendent for human resources. Cohen is replacing James Woell, the district’s current assistant superintendent for human resources. Woell is leaving the district to accept a superintendent’s position in another district.
STEM director offers presentation on NCSS David Beedy, the district’s director of STEM (Science, Technology, EnDonation from 100+ Women gineering and Math) Education, gave Who Care approved a presentation during the meeting The board also approved a donation about Next Generation Science Stanof up to $14,600 for the York Duke dards (NGSS). The NGSS Standards Depot from the District 205 Foundaare reportedly K-12 science content tion as funded by the Elmhurst 100+ standards. Beedy said the NGSS StanWomen Who Care. The York Duke dards call for a shift away from rote Depot provides a variety of personal memorization and teachers providing items, including clothing and school information to the whole class. The supplies, to identified students who NGGS Standards place an emphasis need assistance. on students conducting investigations and research, asking questions, Next meeting to feature solving problems and engaging in “changing of the guard” discussions with teachers’ guidance. The board will hold its next meeting Beedy said the entire district should Board approves donations for on April 23. That will be the outgoing be aligned with NGGS Standards by Jackson, Emerson, York meeting for three board members— the 2020-21 school year. The board voted to approve dona- Blum, Shannon Ebner and John Mctions to the district, including a dona- Donough. Four residents, including Smith discusses Internet tion of nearly $3,000 from the Jack- current board member Karen Stuefen, upgrade, Chromebooks son PTA for garden supplies, a Gaga will be sworn in to four-year terms David Smith, the district’s exec- pit floor and Gaga balls; a donation of on the board at that meeting. Courutive director of technology, gave a about $6,100 from the Emerson PTA tenae Trautmann, Elizabeth Hosler presentation to the board to provide for a Gaga ball pit, and a donation of and Christopher Kocinski will begin a technology update. He noted that about $5,600 from the York Baseball their four-year terms on the board at this summer, the district will receive Parents and Elmhurst Youth Baseball the April 23 meeting. Stuefen, Trautan Internet upgrade. The district currently has a 2 Gigabits per second link at York High School, which essentially carries all district traffic, and 100 megabytes per second service at the administration center. In February, the board voted to approve an agreement that will bring a 2 Gigabits per second link to the administration center. That link will supplement the existing link at York and prepare the district for the increased reliance on highspeed Internet service. The new link will also protect the district against the loss of service due to the failure of a single Internet link. The 2 Gigabits per second service (2 billion bits While other insurers just see Stolper Insurance Agency Inc of data transferred per second) proBrian D Stolper, President vides 20 times more bandwidth than your home and car as a bundle 447 N York Street 100 megabits per second (100 million or a combo deal, I take the time Elmhurst, IL 60126 bits of data transferred per second) Bus: 630-832-0182 to see what they mean to you service. and give them the protection Smith also noted that in the upthey deserve. coming 2019-20 school year, all students in grades 6 through 9 will use LET’S TALK TODAY. new flip, touchscreen Chromebooks. Smith stated the district’s technology budget has been around $2.9 million in each of the previous two school years, as well as the current 2018-19 school year. The actual expenditures in each of the previous two school years have been about 90 percent of that amount. The district’s technology State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company budget for the 2019-20 school year State Farm Fire and Casualty Company will reportedly be about $3.25 mil1706808 Bloomington, IL lion.
I see more than a bundle.
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The Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board held a meeting on April 9 at the District 205 Center, 162 S. York St. Board member Chris Blum was absent.
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Here’s what’s happening at District 205