BV investigation: Closed
District spent upwards
of $25,000 on legal fees
MANLIUS — The investigation into a personnel matter within the Bureau Valley School District is now completed and closed.
The Bureau Valley School Board met in regular session Monday evening and then went into closed session about 9 p.m. After about an hour in closed session, the board came back into open session and issued the following statement:
“As many of you are aware and as addressed in our prior press release, the board of education was involved with the investigation of a personnel issue.
“We will reiterate that no current or former students were involved in the matter in question, and that no students or staff members of the district were at any risk of harm due to this matter.
“The board’s investigation is now complete, and we trust that you will understand that we remain unable to publicly discuss personnel issues.
“It is the board’s policy and obligation to keep personnel issues confidential, and we cannot, therefore, comment on any specifics in regards to this investigation.”
On Wednesday morning, Bureau Valley School Board President Roger Craine said he is glad the investigation is over, and he does not expect the investigation to be reopened.
Later Wednesday, the Bureau County Republican tried to contact Craine again as well as board vice president Kent Siltman to ask about legal costs to the district for the investigation, but was unable to reach Craine or Siltman.
The BCR was able to reach school board member Keith Bolin, who also serves as the board’s finance chairman. Bolin said legal fees for the district could end up in the $20,000 to $25,000 range, though the final bills have not yet been submitted.
The people of the district have the right to know the legal costs to the investigation, Bolin said. It’s the people’s business to know, he said.
The Bureau Valley School District was represented in the investigation by the Chicago law firm of Robbins, Schwartz, Lifton and Taylor, which has served as legal counsel for the school district since its formation, Bolin said.
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