Feds Subpoena LW 210 Records

NEW LENOX, IL — Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 is now under scrutiny by the U.S. Department of Justice, according to a document released Monday, May 23.

The district was subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury May 18 at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago.

The U.S. Attorney's Office demanded a wide range of documents, mostly related to the compensation of former Superintendent Lawrence Wyllie during his 1989–2013 tenure.

Dated May 4, the subpoena lists the records requested, dated Jan. 1, 2000 to present, including:

• salary and compensation information for Wyllie
• travel and training pertaining to Wyllie
• complete personnel files for Wyllie
• reimbursement records for unused leave for Wyllie
• attendance reports and applications for leave for Wyllie
• requisition and approval forms for all payments made to all American Express and other credit cards used by or on behalf of the district or Wyllie
• all records related to the Superintendent’s Emergency Fund(s) at the district
• school board policies and procedures
• board meeting memorandum, minutes, details and recordings, including from closed session
• records related to spending of federal, state and local funds, including bond funds, restricted funds and student activity funds from 2006-present
• all records related to the district’s participation in the E-Rate program

Wyllie retired in 2013, but the current board casts blame on his leadership as the source of many of the district's current financial woes.

The Tribune has focused on these matters in reporting about his time at the helm:

• spent $45,000 for a "Super Dog" training academy. No benefit to the students.
• 10-year no-bid contract extension for Nancy's Day Care, which is primarily used by L-Way teachers with children. The daycare used district space rent-free. The district also bought $90,000 in playground equipment for the day care.
• $5 million purchase of swath of land in Manhattan Township. $195,000 in commission went to a firm run by the Lincoln-Way Foundation's then-president.
• $368,000 paid by taxpayers into a retirement annuity fund.

District officials and board members have been advised not to comment on any items pertaining to this investigation, said Community Relations Director Taryn Atwell.