John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs Stories

Grundy/Kendall ROE hands out $37,950 in unauthorized Christmas bonuses

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Jan 23, 2024

Chris Mehochko, the Superintendent of the Grundy/Kendall County Regional Office of Education (“GKROE”), has been handing out Christmas or Holiday bonuses like candy to the ROE employees for the past several years.

Professional Development Alliance takes down website; dissolves

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Jan 3, 2024

The 27-year Professional Development Alliance (“PDA”) of the Will County and Grundy Kendall County Regional Offices of Education officially dissolved over the weekend and its website was promptly removed from public viewing on January 1, 2024.

ROE’s Professional Development Alliance officially dissolves

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Dec 26, 2023

The 27-year Intergovernmental Agreement (“IGA”) between the Will County and Grundy-Kendall County Regional Offices of Education, which set up the Professional Development Alliance (“PDA”), will dissolve on December 31, 2023.

Will-Grundy-Kendall ROEs hosted majestic Isle Casino servers/email for years

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Dec 9, 2023

As early as 2013, the “Professional Development Alliance” (“PDA”) and its government employees were under contract with Vista Learning (See 2013 contract).

$874,000 in improper gifts from contractor to ROE/PDA employees

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Nov 23, 2023

An Agency of the Regional Offices of Education of Will County and Grundy-Kendall County, the Professional Development Alliance (“PDA”), entered into a contract with Vista Learning, NFP, as early as 2013.

Will-Grundy-Kendall ROEs Part 5: Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Resolution misrepresentation

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Nov 10, 2023

This is part 5 in a series of articles on the Will County and Grundy-Kendall Counties Regional Offices of Education (“ROE”). Read parts 1 – 2 – 3 and 4.

Will-Grundy-Kendall ROEs Part 4: Public meeting; PDA dissolution, and Contract cancelation

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Nov 3, 2023

Will-Grundy-Kendall ROEs Part 4: Public meeting; PDA dissolution, and Contract cancelation

Will-Grundy-Kendall ROEs Part 3: Scheme and artifice to obtain IMRF

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Nov 2, 2023

This is part 3 in a series of articles on the Will County and Grundy-Kendall Counties Regional Offices of Education. Read parts 1 and 2.

Regional Office of Education acting as independent contractor for private corporation

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs | Oct 23, 2023

This is the first of a series of articles where we will discuss the Will and Grundy-Kendall County Regional Offices of Education, contracts, employees, IMRF, and alleged conflicts of interest.