Legat Architects gave $2,000 to FOTS on February 23, 2008 - more than two weeks AFTER the election.  The referendum had already passed and FOTS has a healthy bank balance of more than $12,000 for future campaigning.  There's no referendum scheduled (YET).  So why would Legat shell out thousands?  This appears to me to be more political "quid pro quo" from a government contractor.  If Legat is reading this - I'm interested to know why you are contributing to this permanent political slush fund, and I'll post whatever response you care to make.

FRIENDS OF THE SCHOOLS WATCH

This page will update the community on activities of the Friends of the Schools committee ("FOTS"), a five-year-old political fund originally formed to lobby for passage of the 2003 referendum to expand and renovate the district's two high schools.  For more information, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections web site, www.elections.state.il.us.

FOTS was wildly successful in its original mission.  It raised over $63,000, roughly $6.25 per vote cast in support of the referendum.  In fact, it raised so much money that it had about $15,000 left over after the election.  Illinois law allowed this money to be given to District 200, or PTAs, or the booster clubs.  However, the money was kept in a non-interest bearing account.  Some was spent in support of the incumbent school board members in the 2005 election.  As of June 30, 2007, state records show that almost $14,000 remains in the bank.

FOTS has resurfaced, as shown in the FOTS July 1 Letter available on the Download Files page.  FOTS says that its representative "can present details regarding the building of the new Hubble Middle School."  NOTE:  does FOTS have inside information?  Let's withhold judgment until the School Board actually tells us what the referendum will say.

Page last updated July 30, 2007.