Schmidt's Prints On York High Bids? Apparently Not
ELMHURST, IL – A project to make York High School more secure yielded a fuller explanation than usual on the bidding process.
At Tuesday’s Elmhurst School District 205 board meeting, member Kara Caforio asked for details on the process “in light of some of the circumstances of the last couple of weeks.”
She was likely referring to last month’s arrest of the district’s facilities director, Todd Schmidt, on felony charges in Rockford. He oversaw $168 million in school building projects approved in a 2018 referendum.
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On Thursday, Patch revealed that Schmidt put $47,000 in personal items, including booze and cigars, on the district’s credit card. The district said he paid it all back, but described the credit card situation as “extremely serious.”
At the meeting, a representative of International Contractors Inc., which has been helping oversee the projects, outlined the process for the vestibule bids.
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The bid opening was Dec. 5. That was after Schmidt was arrested and placed on leave but before he resigned.
The project at York is to improve the vestibule, making it more secure.
Seven companies bid on the glass and glazing, while three did so for the general trades.
“We had a great turnout,” said Jason Wasser of International Contractors. “We did a scope review, which is where we sit down with the contractors. We review their submitted bids, make sure they have the qualifications to do the work.”
Board member Courtenae Trautmann said she wanted to make sure who Wasser meant by “we.”
Waller said he was referring to his company’s representatives.
Board President Athena Arvanitis said the York vestibule was the last one of a series of projects making local schools more secure.
The York work is set to cost $330,975, which was under the estimated budget of $373,660, according to a district memo.
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